One degree

News Limited has become the first media organisation in the world to be invited to join the United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) Climate Neutral Network.

News Limited is implementing measures to save around 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases from its operations across Australia as part of the company’s One Degree initiative to tackle climate change.

News Limited Chairman and Chief Executive, John Hartigan, said One Degree – launched on June 25 2007 - had exceeded the company’s expectations both in terms of reducing News Limited’s own carbon footprint and by inspiring staff and the broader community to take action.

Mr Hartigan said work underway within News Limited has so far identified around 125 new initiatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next two years by 20% as part of News Limited’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2010.

“One Degree is now part of the way we do things at News Limited,” Mr Hartigan said.

News Limited today congratulated its major newsprint supplier Norske Skog on its announcement to reduce its carbon emissions by one million tonnes a year.

News Limited is Norkse Skog’s largest single customer anywhere in the world. The company has supplied newsprint to News Limited for over 50 years and currently supplies more than 90% of News Limited’s total newsprint.

News Limited chairman and chief executive, John Hartigan, said the decision by Norkse Skog is a stunning example of what can be achieved by businesses committed to reducing greenhouse gas.

Richard Freudenstein, chief executive officer of News Digital Media, News Limited’s digital business, today announced that the company has become carbon neutral. This has been achieved through a combination of reducing and offsetting carbon emissions produced by the company.

All carbon produced by NDM last year has been offset by investments in wind farm energy projects in India. The offsets are certified under the international Voluntary Carbon Standard developed by The Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Advertiser Newspapers’ initiative to reduce the global impact of climate change aims to inspire all South Australians into taking action to prevent the catastrophic consequences of modern-day living.

As part of this ongoing initiative to inform and inspire the South Australian community about climate change, The Advertiser has partnered with Trees for Life to offer readers a free Tree Grower’s Kit on Saturday July 28.

News Limited Chairman and Chief Executive John Hartigan has told business leaders in Sydney that the time for negotiating exemptions for greenhouse gas emissions and defending inaction is over is business is to play a role in addressing climate change.

News Limited has committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% and become carbon neutral within three years.

News Digital Media chief executive officer, Richard Freudenstein, today announced the business will be carbon neutral this year.

The company will achieve carbon neutrality by reducing its use of energy, utilising renewable energy where possible and offsetting the remaining carbon dioxide released during its daily operations as a last resort.

News Corporation today announced its strategy to address its use of energy and impact on the climate. The company’s goals are to reduce its operations’ carbon emissions significantly and to engage its 47,000 employees and its millions of readers, viewers and web users around the world on this issue.