2010-12-09

Ericsson gets a top score on The Greenpeace cool IT leaderboard

• Ranked #2 based on solutions, energy impact and advocacy efforts
• Ericsson among companies that have set the bar on green solutions development.

Reiterates ICT potential to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has been recognized by Greenpeace with a top ranking on their Cool IT Leaderboard as one of the IT companies with "the boldest and most encompassing industry efforts to address climate change to date"

The Cool IT Leaderboard ranks global IT brands on their efforts to build emission-slashing innovations, mitigate their own energy footprints, and support groundbreaking climate and energy policies.

It has been two years since the Climate Group published the "SMART 2020", a report that uncovered the IT sector's potential to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent by 2020. "A few companies stand out for the comprehensiveness of their approach to climate action, or have distinguished themselves in a key realm of leadership," said Greenpeace in a statement.

Ericsson participates actively in public-private dialogue where the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in combating the climate change is discussed. Right now the company is part of the Green Solutions Fair in conjunction with COP16 in Mexico.

"The leadership gap on climate issues continues to widen as some IT companies step forward while others stand still," said Greenpeace energy policy analyst Gary Cook. "Greenpeace is pleased to see Ericsson putting forward solutions to address the climate crisis, and we hope that the company's growing commitment to a clean energy economy will inspire action across the sector."

"A 21st century infrastructure built on broadband will be pivotal to creating a sustainable, low-carbon economy, allowing services such as smart grids, m-health and intelligent transport, among others," says Elaine Weidman-Grunewald, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Ericsson. "In shifting from products to services supported by today's Information and Communication Technology (ICT), we have the potential to positively affect climate change in ways that could not have been imagined a few years ago. The impact will be truly transformational"

On December 8, Hans Vestberg, Ericsson President and CEO, will participate on a CEO and ministerial panel to stress the importance of (ICT) role in addressing climate change. Vestberg will participate from Sweden via video conference, demonstrating a proof point for reducing CO2 emissions with ICT.

Greenpeace concludes that IT companies need to continue working with other transformative sectors -- buildings, transportation, logistics, and clean energy developers -- to actively support policies that catalyze the global adoption of clean technologies; that, in combination with an enhanced commitment to reducing IT's own growing energy footprint, can transform the energy economy into a renewable and prosperous system built on IT innovation.

Information about the company: Telefon AB LM Ericsson