Our carbon footprint

The main contribution to our carbon ‘footprint’ is the consumption of electricity to run our communications networks.

We have completed studies that helped us better understand our carbon footprint. Our assessments included the total energy consumption and impact of:

• Our business.
• Selected suppliers (distributors of O2 goods).
• Our customers, as measured by the number of phones they are using through our networks, that is per active sim card.

To offset this effect entirely by financial means – through, for example, funding renewable energy programmes – would be expensive. So we aim to concentrate first on reduction and conservation.

In 2006 we continued our internal communications campaigns to encourage energy saving as a way of life at O2. This is especially important as our growing business activity has resulted in increased business travel. We encourage the use of technology rather than business travel where possible.

We made progress during the year to increase our uptake of green energy and in some markets have started to offset our carbon footprint through investment in projects that create new sources of renewable energy – such as wind.

¹ Business travel only.

¹ Electricity and gas consumption are reported for all premises and operations where O2 is the direct customer.
Rented premises are included where possible, but some may be excluded. Electricity consumption for the fixed
line network of Telefónica O2 Czech Republic is excluded.

² Corrected CO2 emissions take account of the amount of electricity purchased from either low-carbon sources
(notably ‘Good Quality’ CHP schemes and waste incineration), or, renewable sources (notably wind and hydro).

¹Uncorrected CO2 emissions do not take account of supply from low-carbon or renewable sources of electricity.
This assumes that all electricity is supplied from the relevant national grid.         
Factors used to convert kWh electricity to tonnes CO2: 0.00043 (UK, Defra 2005); 0.00049 (Germany, IEA 2002); 0.00067 (Ireland, IEA 2002); 0.00055 (the Czech Republic, CEZ 2006).   

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