Vodafone slashes customers’ emissions with Internet of Things
Telecoms company Vodafone has helped save its customers more than 3.5 million tonnes of CO2e thanks to its ability to connect devices and share information through the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT). That’s according to Vodafone’s latest CSR report, which claims the massive carbon saving was driven by its range of IoT solutions – smart meters, cloud-based services, call conferencing and smart logistics. For example Vodafone enables smart bins in cities to transmit data to the local council, alerting them when they need to be emptied. By only making trips when necessary, a refuse fleet in one city cut transport emissions by 18%. However, this success in cutting customers’ emissions has not carried over into Vodafone’s own net emissions, which increased 10% year-on-year to 2.8 million tonnes of CO2e, due to significant changes in the business since emission reduction goals were set in 2006. (Edie)
Employees
Elite UK firms ‘exclude bright working class’
Elite firms are sidelining intelligent working-class applicants in favour of privileged, “polished” candidates, a new report by the UK government’s Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission says. The study, conducted by Royal Holloway, University of London on behalf of the Commission, was based on interviews with staff from 13 elite accountancy, law and financial services firms and examined barriers to entry for people from less privileged backgrounds. Findings suggest that despite attempts to improve social inclusion over the past decade, such firms continue to be heavily dominated at entry level by people from privileged social backgrounds, who probably went to private or selective schools. To break into top jobs, state school candidates needed higher qualifications than their privately educated peers, the report adds. This can be mainly attributed to recruitment methods which target the ‘Russell Group’ of 24 highly selective UK universities. (BBC)
Energy
Renewable energy will overtake coal if climate pledges are kept
Wind, solar and other types of renewable power will overtake coal to become the world’s top source of electricity in just 15 years if the pledges countries are making for a global climate change deal this year are met. The striking finding by the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows renewable power could soar from just over a fifth of global electricity generation today to nearly a third by 2030 — a bigger share than either coal, gas or nuclear plants. Today’s energy companies are making a “major fatal error” if they assume climate action is not going to affect their businesses, Fatih Birol, the IEA chief economist, said. For the first time in UN climate negotiations, nearly all countries are supposed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions as part of a global agreement due to be signed in Paris in December. (FT*)
Consumers
Poll reveals growing demand for ‘sustainable’ holidays
Demand for green holidays and eco-resorts is set to keep climbing, according to a global survey by Booking.com. The poll revealed that 52 percent of respondents are likely to favour a destination that offers reduced impact on the environment, although the market for specifically ‘green’ holidays remains niche. Only 10 percent of respondents said they had taken a sustainable trip, defined as an eco-tour, a volunteering trip, a farm stay, a camping trip or a trip to learn about new cultures. But a majority insisted environmental impacts were a consideration when selecting a trip. The tourism and hospitality industry continues to face criticism for its resource intensive practices, reliance on aviation, and local environmental impacts. However, growing numbers of hotel and tourism operators have been investing heavily in curbing emissions levels, waste production, and water use, while an industry has developed around boutique eco-hotels. (Business Green)
Corporate Reputation
Artists occupy Tate Modern in anti-BP demonstration
Over 70 artists planned an unauthorised performance in London’s Tate Modern gallery on Saturday to protest against the gallery’s sponsorship agreement with oil giant BP. Members of art collective Liberate Tate – which fights against the sponsorship relationship between BP and the museum – set up a performance called Time Piece, facing down officials who threatened to call the police. The group spent 25 hours scrawling words of warning about climate change in charcoal on the sloping floor of the Turbine Hall. They left at 1pm on Sunday. Thousands of visitors to the Tate filed past the protest on Saturday as if it was another work at the prestigious gallery, but on Sunday officials closed the Turbine Hall to the public. Liberate Tate has staged 14 protest performances since 2010 calling on the Tate to ditch its deal with BP, which is worth around £224,000 a year. (Blue & Green Tomorrow; Guardian)
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