Bharti Airtel Commits 50.2% GHG Emission Reduction Across Operations by FY31

On Monday, Bharti Airtel committed to reducing 50.2% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its operations by FY2031. Along with this, Airtel now has become the first Indian telco to join the UN Global Compact, which is a global corporate sustainability initiative.

Bharti Airtel Looking to go Green

The telco has joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)’s ‘Business Ambition for 1.5°C’ campaign and has adopted targets to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and emissions from its network operations.

In a press statement, the telco said, “with this, Airtel joins the league of leading global corporations who have committed to the 1.5°C pathway outlined by the SBTi - a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)".

Furthermore, the telco has committed to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 42% over the same period. Per the company, it will achieve the said targets by adopting green energy solutions across its network operations. Along with this, it will also invest in an energy-efficient infrastructure, and processes. Lastly, it will look to implement sustainable business practices as well.

Vidyut Gulati, Director – Legal, Bharti Airtel, said, "businesses have a fundamental responsibility to contribute to this effort and Airtel has adopted an ambitious target in this direction and will report its progress transparently".

For the time being, Airtel has achieved a 97% reduction in network emission intensity for mobile operations. Along with this, it has also increased renewable energy deployment by 25% over the last 5 years. Also, the company has work in progress on a 14MW captive solar power plant in Uttar Pradesh; the telco will use it to meet the energy requirements of its core and edge data centers in the state. Lastly, it has also acquired 7.48% share in Sandhya Hydro Power Project Balargha at Rs. 1.74 crore, to enable Nxtra in powering edge data centers in Delhi.