Sam Palmisano should be speaking up for a strong deal in Copenhagen. IBM is top of our leaderboard but isn't using its clout with governments for international climate action. Read the details or do something about it.
Oct 2009 Greenpeace Assessment
Summary: 43/100
Home of the "Smarter Planet" program, IBM remains at the top of the leaderboard and is well positioned to deliver IT solutions to reduce emissions on a large scale, as evidenced by city-level solution projects. Despite this advantage and high-level political access, Sam Palmisano has not put Big Blue's weight behind the policy solutions that are needed to drive economy-wide transformation that would further drive IBM's solutions business model. IBM should be speaking up for a strong deal in Copenhagen.
Public Climate Speech: 2/10
Samuel Palmisano is active in promoting IBM "Smart Cities" solutions with good examples of how IT solutions can reduce emissions, but he doesn't speak about specific global targets for emissions reductions.
Political Advocacy: 6/25
IBM has direct experience saving money and growing the company while simultaneously reducing its greenhouse gas footprint, yet it has largely limited its advocacy to national IT solutions in the US related to smart grids.
So, because Samuel Palmisano's firm has not been more active, IBM only scores two points out of ten available on repeating advocacy. See our factsheet for how we score political advocacy and "repeat performances".
Climate Solutions: 23/50
IBM is a top-scoring company along with Fujitsu on provision and measurement of climate solutions. It has a wide range of climate solutions as part of its 'Smarter Planet' program and provides some case studies of saving achieved. The range of its climate solutions include smart grids, transport and carbon in the supply chain. IBM provided case studies for traffic reduction in Stockholm and published new Smart Grid data. While saving figures were provided, IBM needs to give more details on more case studies with net emissions savings in specific case studies and solutions.
IBM is involved in many innovative projects that are producing real emission reductions, but it cannot claim to be a climate leader while it is also promoting smarter oilfield technologies.
Own Emissions Target: 10/10
IBM has a proven track record reducing its GHG emissions, provides very strong absolute emissions reductions targets and has had targets for absolute emissions reductions for much longer than the other companies. However, in 2006-7, its emissions grew due to company growth. IBM should decouple growth with absolute emissions reductions.
Renewable Energy Use: 2/5
IBM has achieved 8.6 percent renewable energy use by 2008. However, it has not set a target for 2012.
See also
- Table of scores for all assessments
- Scoring criteria explained (PDF version)
- May 2009 Assessment (29/100 points, 1st position out of 12)
Take Action
Leave IBM some feedback on their blog
IBM's Smarter Planet Blog is the ideal place to leave them some direct feedback about Samuel Palmisano's climate leadership.
Stuck for something to write? Suggest that Samuel Palmisano use some of Big Blue's clout in Washington for a greener planet. He could ask Obama to go to Copenhagen. The assessment report above is full of details you could refer to.
Ready? Then just click here http://asmarterplanet.com/ and comment on a relevant blog post.
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