AT&T has identified a new business opportunity in helping businesses reduce their carbon emissions. The company announced a new target to help businesses collectively reduce a gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions (1 billion metric tons) by 2035. That's equal to around 15 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 3 percent of global energy-related emissions in 2020, the company said.
The operator will work with businesses including Microsoft, Equinix, and Duke Energy, along with research universities, and a range of other organizations to deliver "broadband-enabled climate solutions".
AT&T has been working with the Carbon Trust and a selection of business customers since 2018 on ways to reduce emissions with AT&T connectivity. The result was a reduction of more than 72 million metric tons of CO2e through the enablement of smart IoT and edge-computing technologies for the manufacturing, agriculture and commercial sectors, the company said.
The company's newly formed Connected Climate Initiative will lead the effort, working with customers, technology companies, universities, and nonprofits to identify best practices, develop new products and use cases, and scale the innovations of startup partners building 5G- and other broadband-enabled climate solutions.
Existing products include the AT&T Guardian device with Azure Sphere from Microsoft. It enables businesses to securely collect and analyze data to identify efficiencies and reduce sources of carbon emissions. Use cases range from connected kitchens to fully digitalized spaces, transportation and supply chains.
Equinix will help provide access to energy-efficient infrastructure for shared customers with AT&T, and Duke Energy intends to work with AT&T to explore how broadband technologies may help both accelerate the transition to renewable energy. The Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus will research how AT&T 5G could help speed emissions reduction in industries with high emissions such as transportation, and The University of Missouri will explore how AT&T 5G may help reduce energy consumption and emissions from buildings.
Additional collaborators include SunPower, Badger Meter, IndustLabs, Traxen, BSR, RMI, Third Derivative and the Carbon Trust.
