External assurance was not sought for this GRI report as a whole. AT&T uses an external third-party organization to assure our greenhouse gas emissions inventory.

For our 2018 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, we obtained independent assurance of our Scope 1, 2 and 3 (select categories) emissions from Trucost.

Please see our Greenhouse Gas Emissions issue brief and AT&T Assurance Statement for more information.

Gross direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent: 1,019,696 CO₂e

Gases included in the calculation: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, HFCs

Biogenic CO₂ emissions in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent: -7,271 CO₂e

Base year for the calculation: 2008

Rationale for choosing the base year: 2008 was the first year for which our Scope 1 emissions were inclusive of all emissions sources within the portfolio and a period following the integration of new portfolio assets through acquisition.

Emissions in the base year: Emissions in 2008 were 1,354,054 metric tons CO₂e.

Source of the emission factors and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used: The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition); U.S. EPA Climate Leaders: Direct HFC and PFC Emissions from Manufacturing Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment; U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program; GWP - IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4 – 100 year); and Emissions factors – U.S. EPA MRR Final Rule (40 CFR 98) 2016 Revisions – Tables C1 and C2 to Subpart C.

Consolidation approach for emissions: Operational control

Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: Calculations are based on published criteria, such as emission factors and GWP rates. Consumption values are generally tracked using inventory management systems and/or other documented estimation methodology (e.g., fleet records, generator runtime, etc.). All reporting is in line with GHG accounting protocols, and with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years. Schneider Electric’s Resource Advisor platform is the primary tool for emissions calculations (facility emissions), while other emissions calculations, in alignment with the GHG Protocol, are done manually.

Gross location-based energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂e: 6,662,164

Gross market-based energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂e: 6,729,677

Gases included in the calculation: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O

Base year for the calculation: 2013

Rationale for choosing the base year: Our current base year for the metric is 2013. In 2013, we had already achieved a prior goal of 60% reduction in energy intensity from a 2008 baseline and felt strongly that there was still a great deal of room for improvement. AT&T then established a further 60% Scope 2 energy intensity reduction target for 2020, relative to 2013 as the new baseline.

Emissions in the base year: 233 MWh/petabyte of data transmitted, which corresponds to 8,103,246 metric tons CO₂e.

Context for any significant changes in emissions that triggered recalculations of base year emissions: There were no significant changes in emissions that triggered recalculations of base year emissions.

Source of the emission factors and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used: U.S EPA eGRID2016 released February 2018, International Energy Agency Data Services. 2017 – Year 2015. “CO₂ Emissions from Fuel Combustion”; GWP – IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4 – 100 year); Emission Factors – U.S. EIA Form EIA-1605, Appendix N. Emission Factors for Steam and Chilled/Hot Water.

Consolidation approach for emissions: Operational control

Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition), U.S. EPA Climate Leaders: Indirect Emissions from Purchases/Sales of Electricity and Steam. All reporting is in line with GHG accounting protocols, and with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years. Schneider Electric’s Resource Advisor platform is the primary tool for emissions calculations (facility emissions), while other emissions calculations, in alignment with the GHG Protocol, are done manually.

Gross other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂e: 4,283,546

Gases included in the calculation: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O

Biogenic CO₂ emissions in metric tons of CO₂e: 0

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions categories and activities included in the calculation: waste, business travel, downstream leased assets (set-top boxes and residential gateways), upstream and downstream transportation, purchased goods and services, and capital goods.

Base year for the calculation: AT&T’s Scope 3 GHG emissions continue to grow due to improved reporting capabilities. AT&T has not established a Scope 3 baseline due to yearly improvements in its reporting scope. AT&T now reports on business travel (air travel and rental car), downstream leased assets (set-top box and residential gateway emissions), and waste generated in operations. 

Source of the emission factors and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used: GWP-IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4 - 100 year); Emissions factors – U.S. EPA MRR Final Rule (40 CFR 98) – Tables C1 and C2 to Subpart C, DEFRA – Business Travel-Air.

Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition); DEFRA Guidance on Business Travel. All reporting is in line with GHG accounting protocols, and with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years. Schneider Electric’s Resource Advisor platform is the primary tool for emissions calculations (facility emissions), while other emissions calculations, in alignment with the GHG Protocol, are done manually.

GHG emissions intensity ratio for the organization: 26.89 metric tons CO₂e/petabyte of network traffic

Organization-specific metric (the denominator) chosen to calculate the ratio: 285,681 petabyte of network traffic

Types of GHG emissions included in the intensity ratio; whether direct (Scope 1), energy indirect (Scope 2), and/or other indirect (Scope 3): Scope 1 and location-based Scope 2 gross emissions

Gases included in the calculation: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O

For more information on how we calculate total network traffic, see our Energy Management issue brief.

GHG emissions reduced as a direct result of reduction initiatives, in metric tons of CO₂e: 390,864

Gases included in the calculation: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O

Base year or baseline, including the rationale for choosing it: 2017, to highlight year-on-year annualized reductions.

Scopes in which reductions took place; whether direct (Scope 1), energy indirect (Scope 2), and/or other indirect (Scope 3): Scopes 1, 2 and 3

Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: Applied eGRID 2016 (AR4) to annualized savings from 2018 completed energy reductions activities using non-baseload emission factors.

We work to be good corporate citizens in our communities. We know strong communities make our company stronger. We implement local community engagement, impact assessments and development programs throughout our operations. Examples include:

• Creating local development programs based on community needs such as AT&T Believes^SM, a company-wide initiative that aims to create positive change in local communities, and our support for disaster relief efforts.
• Engaging in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, to build a nationwide communications platform dedicated to first responders and the public safety community. 
• AT&T is also committed to working with cities to form public-private partnerships to provide cities IoT solutions that help create more efficient, safe, sustainable and livable cities. 
• Evaluating our environment, health and safety performance through regular reviews and internal and external audits, and collaborating with organizations or agencies as necessary to reach resolutions that are in the best interest of the environment, our customers and the citizens of our communities. 
• Engaging community and civic leaders on investment opportunities from discussions, location and permitting. 
• Collecting community complaints and grievances through our state External & Legislative Affairs team and our Office of the President and reporting them to the appropriate business units for resolution.

Please see our Connectivity for Rural Areas & Undersubscribed Populations, Community Engagement and Network Architecture & Reliability issue briefs.

There were no known incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services within the reporting season.

Please see our Responsible Use of Products & Services issue brief for more information.

Please see our Responsible Marketing & Media Pluralism issue brief.

Please see our Responsible Marketing & Media Pluralism issue brief.

Please see our Responsible Marketing & Media Pluralism issue brief.

There were no known incidents of non-compliance with regulations that resulted in a penalty, fine or warning, or with voluntary codes concerning marketing communications within the reporting season.

Please see our Responsible Marketing & Media Pluralism issue brief and our Annual Report for more information.

Please see our Customer Privacy issue brief.

Please see our Customer Privacy issue brief.

Please see our Customer Privacy issue brief.

AT&T works hard to safeguard the privacy of customer and employee information. Despite our best efforts, there are occasions when unauthorized parties attempt to gain access to this information. The details associated with any such events are confidential.

For more information on data protection and security, please see our Customer Privacy issue brief.

Please see our Network & Data Security issue brief.

Please see our Network & Data Security issue brief.

Please see our Network & Data Security issue brief.

Please see our Network & Data Security issue brief.

Please see our Accessibility issue brief.

Please see our Accessibility issue brief.

Please see our Accessibility issue brief.

Please see our  Accessibility issue brief, as well as our Universal Design Statement, our AT&T Call Centers site and att.com/accessibility. 

Please see our Responsible Use of Products & Services issue brief.

Please see our Responsible Use of Products & Services issue brief.

Please see our Responsible Use of Products & Services issue brief.

Please see our Responsible Use of Products & Services issue brief.

Please see our Connectivity for Rural Areas & Undersubscribed Populations issue brief.

Please see our Connectivity for Rural Areas & Undersubscribed Populations issue brief.

Please see our Connectivity for Rural Areas & Undersubscribed Populations issue brief.

Please see our Connectivity for Rural Areas & Undersubscribed Populations issue brief and att.com/access. 

Please see our Climate Change and Innovation for Social Good issue briefs.

Please see our Climate Change and Innovation for Social Good issue briefs.

Please see our Climate Change and Innovation for Social Good issue briefs.

Please see our Climate Change and Innovation for Social Good issue briefs.