AT&T will intensify its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its operations, according to the company's 2007/2008 Citizenship and Sustainability Report, "Connecting for a Sustainable Future." AT&T is also increasing its commitment to help customers find ways to reduce their impact through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services and applying innovation and technology to help address society's needs.
According to the report, some of the significant steps AT&T has taken to better integrate citizenship and sustainability initiatives with its business, include:
- The AT&T Board of Directors expanded the responsibility of its Public Policy Committee to include oversight in this area.
- AT&T appointed a senior executive to coordinate its citizenship and sustainability program.
- AT&T put in place a Citizenship and Sustainability Steering Committee that is made up of officers from across the company.
- AT&T worked with a nonprofit group, Business for Social Responsibility, to further drive citizenship and sustainability programs into the business operations of the company.
- In 2008, AT&T introduced a new fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles. The company is also covering much of the roof of its San Ramon, Calif., campus with a 1 megawatt solar panel system. In addition, 10 percent of the electricity purchased for all facilities in Austin, Texas, is coming from wind power. A new energy policy balances the company's need for affordable energy with the pursuit of alternative and renewable forms of energy that have less impact on the environment.
- Offering customers sustainable products and services: AT&T and Cisco Systems Inc. launched the AT&T Telepresence Solution, a new video conferencing service that combines rich audio with High Definition video to create a unique "in person" experience, helping customers reduce travel. The company provides its AT&T U-verse TV customers with set-top boxes that meet energy- efficiency criteria set by ENERGY STAR.
- AT&T Labs is fostering a work environment and culture that encourages its more than 1,100 scientists and engineers to actively follow their passions and apply technological advancements to address social and environmental challenges. AT&T innovations are helping tackle a variety of global issues, such as climate change through work on species migration and energy efficiency.
AT&T also said that it is in the initial stages of establishing data-gathering systems and key performance measures for its citizenship and sustainability efforts.http://www.att.com/csr
