Telecom operator Grameenphone has set a target to reduce 50 per cent of carbon emissions (CO₂) by 2030, taking 2019 emissions as the baseline.
The organisation is actively implementing initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, such as enhancing energy efficiency, investing in renewable energy sources, promoting a culture of optimum energy conservation within the organisation, and working with partners in multiple layers to reduce the environmental impact of the business, especially supply chain, read a press release.
Grameenphone has always had environment as a core strategic focus. The network infrastructure is responsible for a major part of the company's energy consumption.
Hence, the telecom operator has so far converted around 1,200 towers into solar energy-powered sites in remote places like Hatiya, ensuring connectivity in the most unconnected regions.
These hybrid sites are creating additional savings of fuel as well as reduced carbon dioxide emissions, one of the first steps towards fulfilling that commitment.
Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman, emphasised the significance of a green shift, saying, “According to Germanwatch’s 2021 Global Climate Risk Index (CRI), we are vulnerable to both disasters and climate change and Bangladesh is ranked the seventh extreme disaster risk-prone country in the world.”
He added, “Deploying solar powered towers is a steppingstone towards co-creating a greener future. It will significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from our operations and help overcome the electricity supply problem. As an early adopter of green initiatives in Bangladesh, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint with a comprehensive set of initiatives.
“I believe if private sector organizations are given opportunity to procure more renewable energy utilizing the gridlines, it will encourage more green energy investments into the country and enable us to achieve our national ambition.”
Marking World Environment Day on Monday, a roundtable discussion titled "Green Energy Ecosystem in Bangladesh" was organised at GP House where panellists at the event, including Espen Rikter-Svendsen, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka; Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone; Md Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Director of the Center for Energy Research, UiU; Nazneen Ahmed - Country Economist at UNDP, Tham Chee Aun – Group CEO, Ditrolic Energy Holdings Sdn Bhd and Faisal Rabbi, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs Manager of H&M, engaged in a constructive dialogue on various aspects regarding environmental obligations for corporates, counting the current regulations for Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPA), the utilisation of transmission and distribution infrastructure by the private sector, and the importance of collaboration between public and private entities to support renewable electricity markets.
Grameenphone's climate targets have been set based on the ICT sector-specific decarbonisation pathway, approved by the Scientific Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Grameenphone, being a socially responsible organisation, aims to combine off-grid and on-grid PPAs to reach its 50 per cent CO2 reduction target by 2030, read the release.
As the current market poses certain challenges in terms of power generation, distribution, and selling to BPDB, the roundtable talks provided an opportunity to explore feasible solutions to these issues and consolidate further recommendations for policymakers.
Committed to digital inclusion and sustainable development, the telecom operator has long been striving to harness the power of technology to drive positive change in society while minimising environmental impacts in every way possible, including spearheading the launch of eco-friendly eSIMs.
Reflecting on this philosophy, Grameenphone expressed its keen enthusiasm and concern to foster collaboration between stakeholders and subject matter experts by facilitating a conducive environment for on-grid CPPAs and accelerating the transition to a greener energy landscape in Bangladesh thereby.
