2016 emissions profile
(CO2e metric tons)*
Energy & emissions
Reducing our environmental impact
Throughout Verizon’s operations we have adopted strategies to minimize our environmental impact and drive greater efficiency. More than 93 percent of Verizon’s emissions come from the electricity we use to power our networks.
In 2017, we implemented several initiatives to increase energy efficiency in our larger wireless core data centers and made progress in lowering energy usage at these facilities. We also continued to invest in improving the overall energy efficiency of our facilities with numerous initiatives that included mechanical and whole-building control systems, LED lighting, HVACs and chillers, high-efficiency motors, economizers, cable dehydrators and high-efficiency uninterruptible power supplies.
*We are currently undergoing independent external assurance of our 2017 GHG emissions and carbon intensity. We will report our results later this year.
Our emissions by scope (CO2e metric tons)
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | % Change 2015-2016 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 487,082 | 445,704 | 372,496 | -16.42% |
| Scope 2 | 5,452,013 | 5,529,153 | 5,259,727 | -4.87% |
| Total Scope 1 & 2 |
5,939,095 | 5,974,857 | 5,632,222 | -5.73% |
| Scope 3* | 43,987 | 43,333 | 91,365 | +111% |
* Exclusively business travel.
Verizon received an A- on CDP’s 2017 evaluation and is ranked in CDP’s Leadership scoring band. This is recognition that Verizon is a leader among the companies that voluntarily disclose their environmental impacts.
Scope 1 – All direct sources of emissions owned or controlled by Verizon, with the main categories being fuel to power our fleet, heat our buildings and power our back-up generators.
Scope 2 – Indirect emissions sources generated off-site, but purchased by Verizon. The main category is electricity to power our networks and data centers, plus a small amount of steam and heat purchased to heat our buildings.
Scope 3 – Emissions from corporate business travel (air and rail) based on travel reservations.