Globe, as part of Singtel group, joins more than 50 mobile operators from all over the world in addressing the growing problem of climate change through a commitment to disclose the impact of its operations on the environment using the internationally-recognized CDP global disclosure system.
This is part of a major GSMA-led initiative to develop a mobile industry climate action roadmap that will create a decarbonization pathway for the mobile sector by February next year. The end-goal is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 aligned with the aim of the Paris Agreement in 2016 to reduce the risks and harmful effects of climate change by limiting the increase of the global average temperature to 1.5 degrees celsius.
By reporting its climate impacts via the CDP system, Globe will enable full transparency of its initiatives to investors, customers and other stakeholders which the company already started locally in 2008 when it released its first sustainability report. In 2017, Globe shifted to an integrated annual and sustainability reporting in accordance with the Integrated Reporting Framework by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). The Globe integrated report carried disclosures consistent with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard Principles and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Integrated Annual Corporate Governance Report (i-ACGR).
“Globe is one with the GSMA in this important endeavor towards alleviating the impacts of climate change. As a telecom operator with a footprint covering two-thirds of the country’s population and thousands of cell sites nationwide, we have a responsibility to demonstrate high standards of environmental management and stewardship in order to reduce our impact while we continue to transform the lives of people with technology and mobile solutions,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO. Globe recently became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, committing to implement universal sustainability principles.
In line with its environmental sustainability program, Globe remains compliant to various regulatory requirements and has undertaken green initiatives to continuously reduce its carbon footprint in its network operations. In 2019, Globe received an enterprise-wide Integrated Management System (IMS) certification on Environmental Management (ISO 14001:2015), Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001:2018), and Business Continuity (ISO 22301:2012) assessed by BSI Singapore, Inc. Globe also complies regularly with the Environmental Impact Statement system of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
With energy efficiency in mind, Globe has deployed a total of 6,314 green network solutions such as fuel cell system, lithium ion batteries, free cooling systems, and hybrid DC generator systems in 2018 almost double from 2017, to equip over 3,000 cell sites. Globe has also reduced GHG emission by 482 tonnes in 2017 and by 503.14 tonnes the following year.
Globe will further upgrade its infrastructure to make it sustainable with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally-sound technologies to realize a 30% reduction of CO2 emission intensity based on 2017 levels.
Meanwhile, to ensure that its generated hazardous wastes are disposed of properly, Globe has partnered with accredited DENR Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facilities and transporters nationwide for lead recycling, battery acid neutralization, re-refinement of used oil, physico-chemical treatment of grease wastes, among others.
This environmental sustainability commitment also extends to Globe customers and other stakeholders. Globe has enjoined its millions of postpaid customers to help save thousands of trees and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enrolling their fixed and mobile accounts in the paperless billing program. In 2018, a total of 3.28 million subscribers or 76% of its postpaid subscribers have switched to paperless billing, saving an equivalent of 52.6 tons of paper.
At the same time, Globe partnered with Hineleban Foundation since 2016 on the reforestation of 300 hectares of denuded primary rainforests in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur. The program is structured over a 5-year period until December 2021. The reforestation efforts also involved customers by empowering them to donate 100 Globe Rewards points to have a tree planted on their behalf.
Globe also helped reduce almost 2,400 metric tonnes of CO2 through its Project 1 Phone, an environment program focused on recovering and recycling all kinds of electronic wastes such as mobile phones, laptops, desktops, computer peripherals, and other electronic gadgets. In 2018, the program recycled over 288,000 kg of electronic waste for a total of 856,000 kg since the program started in 2014. Proceeds from e-waste are used to build ICT-enabled and disaster-resilient classrooms across the country.