June 3, 2008 - BT has pledged to cut its carbon emissions intensity - the ratio of carbon emissions to GDP - by 80% by 2020.

The telecom has also created a new model for measuring and tracking carbon emissions. Called the Climate Stabilization Intensity (CSI) Target, the model weighs an organization's total carbon emissions against its contribution to the global economy via profits and employment. (The tool has earned approval from the Carbon Disclosure Project, a not-for-profit climate group.)

BT says it will use its CSI target to draw up an international roadmap for achieving its ambitious carbon-reduction goal.

In a statement, BT called the CSI model "unique" in that it allows for business growth while adhering to strict carbon reduction targets.

BT says it plans to meet the 8% reduction target through energy efficiency and on-site renewable-energy generation (aiming for 25% of its U.K. electricity to come from dedicated wind turbines by 2016), and by purchasing power from cleaner sources.