Grameenphone launches its environment and climate change campaign
Jun 4, 2009
Grameenphone Ltd. launched its environmental and climate change campaign “Stay Green, Stay Close,” with a press briefing in the city today, June 4, 2009.
The objective of the campaign is to support a healthier environment by both reducing GP's carbon footprint through innovative approaches, as well as increasing awareness among different stakeholder groups through various environmental activations and initiatives. The environment campaign will continue round the year through different awareness campaigns, activations and environmental initiatives.
Speaking on the occasion, the Grameenphone CEO, Mr. Oddvar Hesjedal said that, “we are all contributors to this global crisis and we all need to be the part of the solution.” He then shared the Climate Ambition of Grameenphone of becoming a Green Company in Bangladesh.
Grameenphone's Chief Communications Officer, Ms. Rubaba Dowla, presented the Global and Bangladesh Climate Context highlighting the acuteness of the problem and need to act, as she said that “we will be one of the worst-hit countries for climate change by losing our livable land due to sea-level rise.” Mr. Frode Støldal, Chief Technology Officer of Grameenphone then highlighted GP's current environmental initiatives, adding that “climate change imposes new threats and challenges. As we grow as a nation, our energy demands also increase which impacts the environment.”
During the program, GP also signed power purchase and system procurement agreements for renewable energy with Grameen Shakti Ltd., LM Ericsson Bangladesh Ltd. and Huawei Technologies Ltd.
Mr. Oddvar Hesjedal, CEO, Grameenphone; Mr. M. A. Gofran, Consultant, Grameen Shakti; Ms. Anneli Ahman, CFO and Acting CEO, LM Ericsson Bangladesh Ltd.; and Mr. Tony Hui Zhan, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Technologies Ltd., signed the agreements on behalf of their respective organizations.
While the mobile sector account for less than 1% of the total carbon emission in Bangladesh and is not a heavy polluter, GP still believes it should work to be a part of the solution. As a result, the company has adopted systematic processes to ensure that, wherever possible, it manages and mitigates probable negative impact of its business activities on the environment. In this regard, Grameenphone kicked off Climate Change Program in February 2008 as part of Telenor's global program to support the environment by reducing CO2 emissions.
Grameenphone's environmental roadmap aims to promote a low-carbon society, and GP's first priority is to take responsibility for the excess of CO2 emissions being generated by its own operations. Additionally GP is exploring different sources of renewable energy to test its potential for reducing carbon-related emissions.
Grameenphone's climate change program will address all initiatives related to its 4 operational streams – CO2 emission control, renewable energy usage, awareness and adaptation campaigns, and implementation of the climate friendly technology.
Grameenphone, as a socially responsible company, has already initiated adopting green energy solutions for its base station sites. It has introduced installation of two hybrid solar-powered base stations. This green energy solution will be implemented in other parts of the country as well in the coming days. GrameenPhone is also in the process of installing wind-turbine at the base station sites on an experimental basis.
Simultaneously the company is also initiating an Aware-Engage-Advocacy campaign for its employees and various stakeholder groups (e.g. consumer, community, vendors etc.), with the objective to work jointly towards a greener future for the country. Grameenphone is exploring opportunities to assist its customers with information and tools to help them limit pollution and reduce their own carbon footprint.