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IBM Ranks #1 on Climate Change Strategies in Ceres Report


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ARMONK, NY .-IBM (NYSE: IBM) was today named the top company for climate change strategy and practices, in a report released by the Ceres investor coalition. The report issued today analyzes climate change governance practices at 63 of the world’s largest retail, pharmaceutical, technology, apparel and other consumer-facing companies (http://www.ceres.org).

“This is recognition of IBM’s longstanding dedication to managing its involvement with energy and climate change,” said Wayne S. Balta, vice president, Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety at IBM. “From how we run our operations to what we provide to our clients, IBM is committed to leadership in energy efficiency and climate protection across the breadth of its business.”

Last month IBM was also positively evaluated among 24 IT companies by Gartner and WWF Sweden for the way the company manages climate change across its business operations, involving what Gartner termed environmental basics, supply chain basics, carbon basics, carbon delivery and carbon champions (http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=792412).

IBM’s longstanding commitment regarding climate protection is backed by almost two decades of measuring energy efficiency and assessing climate impact. The results have been significant. For example:

* Between 1990 and 2007, IBM saved 4.6 billion kWh of electricity consumption, avoided nearly 3.1 million metric tons of CO2 emissions (equal to 45 percent of the company’s 1990 global CO2 emissions) and saved over $310 million through its annual energy conservation actions alone.
* IBM’s procurement of renewable energy and RECs increased from 11 million kWh in 2001 to 455 million kWh in 2007, which accounted for 8.5% of IBM’s total 2007 global electricity purchases.
* To further extend these achievements IBM set a “2nd generation” goal to reduce CO2 emissions associated with IBM’s energy use 12% between 2005 and 2012 through energy conservation, use of renewable energy and funding RECs.

IBM also shares its results in a transparent manner. IBM was one of three manufacturing companies to report its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the U.S. Department of Energy voluntary reporting program since its inception in 1995, and has reported through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) since its inception in 2003. IBM is also a member of the CDP’s new Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration to promote the management and reporting of GHG by companies in the supply chain. IBM’s voluntary collaborations with external organizations in government and the NGO community further underscore the company’s proactive approach to climate protection.

IBM is also leveraging its own operational work on energy and climate change as part of its call for a “smarter planet” wherein greater intelligence is infused into the way the world works. In particular, IBM’s products and services are addressing not only IT’s own direct impact upon energy consumption and CO2 emissions, but also the ways in which IT can help solve the world’s energy and climate challenges. Ranging from energy efficient hardware, energy management software and data centers to intelligent electric utility networks, support for solar development, carbon management, intelligent transportation systems and more, IBM’s initiatives are responding to this global challenge consistent with the company’s core value of “innovation that matters.”

In addition, IBM contributes its technology, expertise and innovation to better understand and manage the impacts of climate change. For example, IBM and The Nature Conservancy are partnering on ’Water for Tomorrow’ (http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/environment/great_rivers_partnership.shtml) -- an initiative in which the two organizations are creating simulation, three-dimensional visualization and scenario forecasting tools to facilitate more sustainable management of the world’s great river basins. The system will provide access to wide-ranging data on climate, rainfall, land cover, vegetation, and biodiversity, and enable users to better understand how policy decisions impact water quality and ecosystem service.



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