Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: 27 October 2009
- What is the Greenpeace Cool IT Challenge?
- Why this campaign now?
- What principles has Greenpeace used to assess these companies?
- When will the next assessment be published?
- Why will these companies show leadership?
- How do IT solutions fit in with the big picture?
- Why is Greenpeace targeting the IT sector?
- Why the special treatment for Google, IBM and Microsoft?
- What is the difference between the Challenge and the Guide to Greener Electronics?
- What are Greenpeace's scoring criteria?
- What are the Community Guidelines?
- Can I just see all the scores on one table please?
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What is the Greenpeace Cool IT Challenge?
The Greenpeace Cool IT Challenge scores how much IT companies are doing to help tackle climate change. It has been calculated that IT companies can help cut projected global greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 15 percent by 2020.
Cool IT is divided into three parts highlighting which companies are doing the most to reach this target. The first and highest scoring part (50 percent of the final score) measures the climate mitigation effects those companies already providing climate solutions to other parts of the economy, such as smarter transport, building energy efficiency and smart grids, and publishes how these solutions are reducing net global greenhouse gas emissions.
Large IT companies are extremely influential, and therefore the second part (35 percent of the final score) measures how much they are advocating for a strong global climate deal to be brokered at crucial UN climate negotiations taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark in December. This section measures how much company CEOs are lobbying for a deal that will save the climate.
The third part (15 percent of final score) measures how much companies are reducing their own carbon footprints, including using renewable energy.
Why this campaign now?
Climate change is the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. 150,000 people are a year are already dying from its effects. If we do not act now tackle global warming, then we face a future of increased extreme weather events, such as floods and storms, millions of people will be displaced, and thousands of species will become extinct. It does not have to be this way. We have the solutions, we can save the climate but only if we act now.
2009 is a crucial year for the climate. In December, crucial UN climate negotiations are taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark. World governments will agree the next round of greenhouse gas emission reductions under the next phase of the Kyoto Protocol.
Greenpeace is calling for governments to agree to deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions at the forthcoming Climate Change Negotiations in Copenhagen in December of this year. In order to reach a strong agreement, all sectors need to act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, a strong global climate deal offers a real business opportunity for the IT industry through the technology needed to implement climate solutions, such as improved videoconferencing, smart power grids, and efficient production and logistics. In fact, many IT companies, including HP, Nokia, Microsoft, Sun, Cisco and Ericsson, Google, Dell, IBM and Lenovo have already said (through the Global e-sustainability initiative, GESI, and industry analysts or through the Climate Group) that they are able to provide solutions that will reduce projected global greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2020 through IT enable solutions. That is a significant proportion of the 40% reduction (as compared to 1990 emissions) in industrial country emissions needed by 2020. The IT industry must, therefore, push back against the lobbying of powerful industry sectors such as coal and transport who are heavily lobbying for a weak deal.
Who are the companies? Why have these specific companies been chosen?
The Challenge is open to all large, global IT companies. In February 2009 we wrote to the CEOs of the following companies to raise the challenge:
Cisco, Dell, Fujitsu, Google, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Nokia, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, Sun Microsystems and Toshiba.
We first looked at the biggest global IT and technology companies, then, because we are looking for the most progressive leaders, we focused on those who have already made environmental or climate leadership promises. We then selected a majority of companies from Japan and the US because both countries need to improve their current 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and their overall negotiating positions in the Kyoto talks. Because of the range of solutions that companies are or could be involved in we also ensured we chose a range of companies to cover all parts (hardware, software and services), and those that make components that other companies and industries use for climate solution technology.
What principles has Greenpeace used to assess these companies?
The criteria focuses on what companies can do to reduce the greatest amount of greenhouse gas emissions, and most effectively influence urgent global climate regulation now. For the majority of criteria only publicly available information is accepted for scoring purposes. On political advocacy criterion, however, some non-public information will be accepted, as the reality is that companies advocacy positions are often not public knowledge. Greenpeace, however, will ensure that credible proof is shown to us.
For a more detailed explanation see our scoring criteria below.
When will the next assessment be published?
The next assessment will be released in February 2010. Previous assessments were published in May and October 2009.
Why do you think these companies will show leadership?
A strong climate deal will create the market conditions for IT companies to sell their solutions to the rest of the economy. Far from being a business risk, climate regulation offers numerous business opportunities to IT companies.
If these companies wish to profile themselves as true green leaders, support for a strong Kyoto deal is essential.
How do IT solutions fit in with the big picture?
IT solutions provide a key element of the solutions the world needs as outlined in our Energy Revolution blueprint. For example, to have a large increase in renewable energy use new smart grids are needed in developed countries and need to be built in developing countries. IT is vital for smart power grids. To achieve large energy efficiency gains the production, transportation and building will need to be made drastically more efficient, all of which can be achieved with the help of IT solutions. Why is Greenpeace asking companies to support specific levels of cuts?
Greenpeace is asking the companies to support the objective to keep global temperature rise as far below 2 degrees Celcius as possible. Scientific evidence shows that , in order to to prevent climate chaos, temperature will need to be halted well below 2 degrees Celsius. In 2007, the world's most eminent climate scientists the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released their fourth report, which shows that in order to keep temperature rise around 2 degrees Celcius, greenhouse gas emissions need to peak by 2015 and developed ocuntries need to reduce their emissions by 25 to 40 percent below 1990 by 2020.. Greenpeace is currently using the upper limits of the ranges given in the IPCC report, as later scientific evidence is showing that we need to reach at least these upper limits. As such, Greenepeace feels it is the minimum we can also ask of companies. Greenpeace will also keep companies informed about the latest scientific research, and expects them to keep their greenhouse gas emission projections in line with this.
A strong global climate deal offers a real business opportunity for the IT industry through providing the technology needed to implement climate solutions, such as improved videoconferencing, smart power grids, and efficient production and logistics. In fact, many IT companies, including HP, Nokia, Microsoft, Sun, Cisco and Ericsson, Google, Dell, IBM and Lenovo have already said (through the Global e-sustainability initiative, GESI, and industry analysts or through the Climate Group) that they are able to provide solutions that will reduce projected global greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2020 through IT enable solutions. That is a significant proportion of the 40 percent reduction in industrial country emissions needed by 2020. The IT industry must, therefore, push back against the lobbying of powerful industry sectors such as coal and transport who are heavily lobbying for a weak deal.
Why is Greenpeace only targeting the IT sector?
The global IT sector is in the unique position of being able to provide wide scale solutions needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and create the low carbon economies we need in the future. This is win-win situation for the sector - the planet gains from IT solutions; the companies gain from providing those solutions.
Of course we would welcome moves by other companies to support and lobby for a strong Kyoto deal and cut their own greenhouse gas emissions.
Why the special treatment for Google, IBM and Microsoft?
Google, Microsoft and IBM are amongst the largest and most influential of US companies in terms of market share, numbers of employees and contribution to GDP.
We expect them to be leading the field in this area, and yet they have not spoken out against the Chamber of Commerce's position. They are all members, and IBM are actually on their Board of Directors. We need them to take a public stance against the position of the chamber, as many other companies have already done, including Apple.
Additionally, none of the companies are lobbying for strong enough action on climate change. The closest any of them have come so far is Google, who have produced a 2030 plan, which is a start, but it is not clear to us how they are pushing this plan, and the climate needs more urgent action. None of these companies have said that mandatory cuts of the levels that the science says we need are necessary, acheivable and good for business.
When companies of this size say something, you can be sure that politicians will listen, so the question is why are they so silent on this issue, when it is clear that they have a business interest in addressing CO2 emissions? We think the companies with the most potential for a positive influence should also be heard, in public and as loudly and frequently as possible.
What is the difference between the Challenge and the Guide to Greener Electronics?
The Guide ranks the major consumer electronics makers on toxics, e-waste and energy criteria and is published quarterly. Like the Challenge the Guide also assesses companies' public support for strong Kyoto targets, their own emissions cuts and renewable energy use.
The IT climate leadership challenge, however, is addressed to the whole IT sector specifically asking them to act on their promises that they can significantly help cut greenhouse gas emissions by taking the first step of lobbying for strong Kyoto deal to be agreed in Copenhagen. A strong climate deal will create the market conditions for IT companies to sell solutions to the rest of the economy. Far from being a business risk, climate regulation offers numerous business opportunities to IT companies.
The Guide will continue to be published quarterly and the Challenge will be updated regularly during 2009.
What are Greenpeace's scoring criteria?
Using climate change priorities, Greenpeace scores IT companies across three areas that are weighted to reflect the biggest potential to reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the areas of Political Advocacy and Reducing Companies’ Own Emissions, companies should be able to take action now. For Climate Solutions, the criteria are designed to identify current best practice among leading companies now and also to outline how companies should be developing and measuring solutions that provide the best way forward for reducing global GHG emissions.
- What GHG emissions reduction solutions a company is already offering, and - crucially - how it is measuring its actual net greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
An immature but vital area if the IT industry is to contribute to reducing global GHG emissions by 2020. Greenpeace is looking for companies to make information available on the impact on emissions reductions that result from the solutions they provide. This information should be provided as a net emissions reduction figure. This figure is arrived at by calculating the total emissions saved, and then subtracting from them the (best-available estimate or actual) GHG emissions generated by providing the solution itself. For example, to calculate the net emissions reductions of a solution, a company should be able to provide evidence of the following:
Total Emissions Saved
- Lifecycle emissions of solution
= Net Emissions Reductions
Alternative methods of calculation will be assessed depending on the specifics of the solution offered, assuming the aim of the calculation is to produce net emissions reductions figures. If company data is incomplete for all solutions offered, individual case study examples will be accepted for assessment.
In the case of specific solutions, ‘Lifecycle emissions of solution’ should include those GHG emissions generated during the production, use and recycling/disposal of the required hardware and software.
Criteria scoring and weighting in depth
’Climate Solutions’ provides a company with its biggest potential to reduce the most GHG emissions, so the maximum score on this criterion is 50 out of 100 points. This criterion will be expanded upon as leading companies demonstrate best practice.
- Provide calculation of current net GHG emissions by solutions provided by company to other parts of the economy and make this information public. Maximum = 25 points.
- Provide explanation of metric used to calculate net GHG emissions reductions of solutions and make this information public. Companies must provide a comprehensive metric reflecting current best practice in the industry. Moving forward Greenpeace would like to see the industry develop a standard protocol for net emissions reductions similar to the current GHG protocol standard. Maximum = 15 points.
- Ambitious target for net GHG emissions by solutions provided across the economy by 2012. Maximum =10 points.
- A company’s leadership on global GHG emission reductions and the public advocacy work it undertakes to influence politicians on the need for strong global emissions reduction targets in the second implementation phase of the Kyoto Protocol, due to start in 2012, but being negotiated this year, culminating in final positions at the Climate Change Negotiations in Copenhagen in December.
A. Political Position - Public CEO Statement to support strong global mandatory greenhouse gas emission regulation that requires domestic cuts by industrialised countries of at least 30% as a group by 2020.
B. Political Advocacy - Advocate the above target with relevant national/international government(s) to support strong global mandatory Kyoto regulation.
Criteria scoring and weighting in depth
An IT company can use its considerable influence to show CEO-level support for strong global mandatory GHG emission regulations that require domestic cuts by industrialised countries of at least 40 percent as a group by 2020, of which at least three-quarters must be domestic. A company will also be scored on evidence of its advocacy work to support this target with relevant senior politicians. In total, 35 points can be achieved in this criterion. To score the maximum 10 points available for 'Political Position', a CEO speech should:
- Include specific reference to the level of mandatory cuts required globally or in the relevant country (Europe - at least 30 percent domestic cuts by 2020, Japan - at least 25 percent domestic cuts by 2020, the US - at least 25 percent domestic cuts by 2020)
- Be made to audience of relevant national or international politicians or relevant forum
Note: Only speeches made since November 2008 will be scored.
To score the maximum 15 points available for 'Political Advocacy', the company's work in this respect should:
- Push for the specific level of mandatory cuts required globally or in the relevant country (Europe - at least 30 percent domestic cuts by 2020, Japan - at least 25 percent domestic cuts by 2020, the US - at least 25 percent domestic cuts by 2020)
- Be made at the national or international level
10 points are also available in this criterion for companies who make repeat CEO speeches and advocacy during 2009.
- Company practice in reducing its own absolute GHG emissions, and increasing the use of renewable energy with targets and timelines, in order to demonstrate credibility in a low-carbon economy.
Criteria scoring and weighting in depth
A. Commitment to reduce absolute GHG emissions from a company's own operations with timelines
A company is rated on its corporate commitment to reduce absolute GHG emissions from its own operations, using GHG emission data (GHG Protocol Corporate Standard Scope 1 & 2). The baseline should be GHG emission data from 2006, 2007 or 2008. A maximum 10 points is available for a company that commits to reducing its own GHG emissions by at least 20% by 2012.
B. Amount of renewable energy used as proportion of total electricity use in own operations
A company is rated on its use of renewable energy in its own operations. 'Renewable energy sources' will mean renewable non-fossil fuels (wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydroelectric installations with a capacity below 10 MW and biomass, which means products from agriculture and forestry, vegetable waste from agriculture, forestry and from the food production industry, untreated wood waste and cork waste), as per the RECS definition as used in the Proposal for an EU Directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity Market (RES Directive).
The RES Directive is available at: http://www.recs.org/doctree/EU%20documents/RES-electricity%20directive.pdf
A maximum 5 points is available for a company whose use of renewable energy in its own operations is more than 25 percent of total electricity use, or for a company that has a target for this in excess of 25 percent by 2012.
Note: These criteria do not provide an exhaustive assessment of an individual company's complete climate policy and practice but focus on what it can do to reduce the greatest amount of GHG emissions and effectively influence the most urgent global climate regulation now.
Using this website
What are the Community Guidelines?
We want this campaign to unleash the bold, creative, subversive side in everyone who participates. But in order for the campaign to grow, and to be effective in pressuring top IT executives to become climate leaders, we've got to treat them with some dignity and respect.
Greenpeace's privacy policy (http://www.greenpeace.org/
Can I just see all the scores on one table please?
Yes, of course. You can download it, or see it in the preview window below. Download: Microsoft Excel format | OpenDocument format