GRI 102-1

Name of the organization

AT&T Inc.

GRI 102-2

Activities, brands, products and services

See our 10-K Form (part 1).

GRI 102-3

Location of headquarters

See our 10-K Form (cover page).

GRI 102-4

Location of operations

See our 10-K Form (part 1).

GRI 102-5

Ownership and legal form

See our 10-K Form (part 1).

GRI 102-6

Markets served

See our 10-K Form (part 1).

GRI 102-7

Scale of the organization

See our 10-K Form (part 1) and our 2020 Corporate Annual Report (pgs. 14– 29).

GRI 102-8

Information on employees and other workers

See the Our Workforce issue brief.

GRI 102-9

Supply chain

See our Responsible Supply Chain issue brief for information about our supply chain.

GRI 102-10

Significant changes to the organization and its supply chain

See our 2020 Corporate Annual Report (pg. 16 and 48) and our Responsible Supply Chain issue brief.

GRI 102-11

Precautionary Principle or approach

The AT&T Environment, Health and Safety Policy asserts our commitment to preventing environment, health and safety incidents by integrating environment, health and safety considerations into business processes, and encouraging suppliers to do the same.

GRI 102-12

External initiatives

See the Issue Briefs listed on our Reporting Library web page for initiatives related to specific topics.

GRI 102-13

Memberships of associations

AT&T contributes to industry associations and coalitions – such as the Motion Picture Association of America, United States Telecom Association and and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association – and other associations that advocate on matters of importance to the industry on behalf of their members.

For more information on the memberships and coalitions we support, see our Political Engagement Report and see the Issue Briefs listed on our Reporting Library web page. 

GRI 102-14

Statement from senior decision-maker

See the Letter from our CEO.

GRI 102-15

Key impacts, risks and opportunities

See our 2020 Corporate Annual Report and our May 2021 ESG Summary. In addition, read more in our Latin American CSR reports.

GRI 102-16

Values, principles, standards and norms of behavior

See our Policies, in particular, our Code of Ethics, Principles of Conduct for Suppliers, Code of Business Conduct and the WarnerMedia Standards of Business Conduct.¹

GRI 102-18

Governance structure

See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief.

GRI 102-40

List of stakeholder groups

See our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment, Value Chain Map and Stakeholder Engagement Policy.

GRI 102-41

Collective bargaining agreements

With approximately 37% union-represented employees, we have one of the largest full-time union-represented workforces in America. See the Our Workforce issue brief for more information.

GRI 102-42

Identifying and selecting stakeholders

See our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement Policy.

GRI 102-43

Approach to stakeholder engagement

See our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement Policy.

GRI 102-44

Key topics and concerns raised

See our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment and Value Chain Map.

GRI 102-45

Entities included in the consolidated financial statements

AT&T publishes an annual 10-K and quarterly financial reports, which cover all company-owned or -controlled operations. See our 10-K Form for more information.

GRI 102-46

Defining report content and topic Boundaries

See our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment and Value Chain Map.

GRI 102-47

List material topics

See our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment and Value Chain Map.

GRI 102-48

Restatement of information

Relevant restatements are included in respective issue briefs. See the issue briefs listed on our Reporting Library web page for more information.

GRI 102-49

Changes in reporting

Since the acquisition of WarnerMedia and the launch of its advertising arm, Xandr, in 2018, we have integrated operationally and through our CSR reporting. In 2019, we conducted a stakeholder engagement assessment that included feedback from stakeholders of these new entities and updated our material topics as reflected in this GRI index and in the Issue Briefs listed on our Reporting Library web page. See our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment for more details.

GRI 102-50

Reporting period

Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2020

GRI 102-51

Date of most recent report

Our most recent report (covering 2019 information and data) was published June 15, 2020. Our current report (covering 2020 information and data) was published May 27, 2021.

GRI 102-52

Reporting cycle

Annual

GRI 102-53

Contact point for questions regarding the report or its contents

Ben Kruse, Director – Global ESG Reporting & Insights, ben.kruse@att.com

GRI 102-54

Claims of reporting in accordance with the GRI standards

This GRI index, our May 2021 ESG Summary and the issue briefs on our Reporting Library web page have been prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: Core option.

GRI 102-56

External assurance

External assurance was not sought for this GRI report as a whole. AT&T uses an external third-party organization to assure select environmental data. For FY2020, we obtained independent assurance for our Scope 1, 2 and 3 (select categories) greenhouse gas emissions as well as select categories for our Scope 2 and 3 energy use.

See our AT&T Assurance Statement for more information.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Network Quality & Reliability issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Network Quality & Reliability issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Network Quality & Reliability issue brief.

GRI 201-1

Direct economic value generated and distributed

See our Network Quality & Reliability and Community Engagement issue briefs as well as our 2020 Corporate Annual Report.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Building Digital Skills issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Building Digital Skills issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Building Digital Skills issue brief.

GRI 203-1

Infrastructure investments and services supported

See our Network Quality & Reliability, Community Engagement, Building Digital Skills and Accessibility & Affordability issue briefs.

GRI 203-2

Significant indirect economic impacts

See our Network Quality & Reliability, Community Engagement, Building Digital Skills and Accessibility & Affordability issue briefs.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Energy Management issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Energy Management issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Energy Management issue brief.

GRI 302-1

Energy consumption within the organization

Total fuel consumption within the organization from non-renewable sources, in joules or multiples, and including fuel types used: 11,814,786 GJ

Total fuel consumption within the organization from renewable sources, in joules or multiples, and including fuel types used: 55,776 GJ

In joules, watt-hours or multiples, the total:

• Electricity consumption: 50,792,866 GJ
• Heating consumption: N/A
• Cooling consumption: 45,569 GJ
• Steam consumption: 142,155 GJ

In joules, watt-hours or multiples, the total:

• Electricity sold: 8,158,386 GJ
• Heating sold: N/A
• Cooling sold: N/A
• Steam sold: N/A

Total energy consumption within the organization, in joules or multiples: 62,851,153 GJ

Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: Calculations are based on published criteria, such as emission factors and global warming potential (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 the GHG Protocol and completed with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years, with updates as needed to ensure methodologies remain current.

Source of the conversion factors used: Conversion factors are based on published criteria to convert from native unit of measure (gallons or MMBtu) to MMBtu, and then using standard and recognizable conversion factors to convert from MMBtu to MWh (x / 3.412), and from MWh to GJ (x * 3.600).

GRI 302-3

Energy intensity

Energy intensity ratio for the organization: 61.9 MWh electricity / thousand subscribers

Organization-specific metric (the denominator) chosen to calculate the ratio: Thousand subscribers

Types of energy included in the intensity ratio; whether fuel, electricity, heating, cooling, steam or all: Electricity consumption in MWh

Whether the ratio uses energy consumption within the organization, outside of it or both: Within the organization

GRI 302-4

Reduction of energy consumption

Amount of reductions in energy consumption achieved as a direct result of conservation and efficiency initiatives, in joules or multiples: 1.403M GJ

Types of energy included in the reductions; whether fuel, electricity, heating, cooling, steam or all: Electrical energy

Basis for calculating reductions in energy consumption, such as base year or baseline, including the rationale for choosing it: Annual electrical energy savings from historical consumption as baselined for each individual energy efficiency or conservation project.

Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: 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 the GHG Protocol and completed with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years, with updates as needed to ensure methodologies remain current.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions issue briefs and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions issue briefs.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions issue briefs.

GRI 305-1

Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions

Gross direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent: 1,044,751

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

Biogenic CO₂ emissions in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent: 0

Base year for the calculation: 2015

Rationale for choosing the base year: Consistent with baseline SBTi-approved from Science-based Targets.

Emissions in the base year: 1,134,340 metric tons CO₂e

Source of the emission factors and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used:DEFRA Voluntary Environmental Reporting Guidelines: Including streamlined energy and carbon reporting guidance, 2020; Energy Information Administration EIA-1605(2020); Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Scope 2 Guidance (an amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard); IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, 2006; The Climate Registry: Default Emission Factors (April 2020); The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition); U.S. EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, 2020; U.S. EPA Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule; U.S. EPA Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID), 2019; GWP - IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5 – 100 year); IEA GHG Emissions from Electricity Generation, OECD/IEA, Paris, 2020. (Year 2018 data); Environment Canada National Inventory Report 1990-2018 (2020 submission).

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 the GHG Protocol and completed with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years, with updates as needed to ensure methodologies remain current. ENGIE Impact’s Carbon Manager platform is the primary tool for emissions calculations, while the Scope 2 market-based figure and emissions modeling are done manually.

GRI 305-2

Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

Gross location-based energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂e: 5,635,263

Gross market-based energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂e: 4,743,507

Gases included in the calculation: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O

Base year for the calculation: 2015

Rationale for choosing the base year:Consistent with baseline SBTi-approved from Science-based Targets.

Emissions in the base year: 7,694,918 metric tons CO₂e (Location-based)

Context for any significant changes in emissions that triggered recalculations of base year emissions: Approval of Science-based Targets.

Source of the emission factors and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used: DEFRA Voluntary Environmental Reporting Guidelines: Including streamlined energy and carbon reporting guidance, 2020; Energy Information Administration EIA-1605(2020); Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Scope 2 Guidance (an amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard); IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, 2006; The Climate Registry: Default Emission Factors (April 2020); The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition); U.S. EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, 2020; U.S. EPA Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule; U.S. EPA Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID), 2019; GWP - IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5 – 100 year); IEA GHG Emissions from Electricity Generation, OECD/IEA, Paris, 2020. (Year 2018 data); Environment Canada National Inventory Report 1990-2018 (2020 submission).

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 the GHG Protocol and completed with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years, with updates as needed to ensure methodologies remain current. ENGIE Impact’s Carbon Manager platform is the primary tool for emissions calculations, while the Scope 2 market-based figure and emissions modeling are done manually.

GRI 305-3

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

Gross other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO₂e: 2,826,455  (not inclusive of supplier emissions)

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 transportation and distribution, purchased goods and services, and capital goods. For upstream categories, data has a 1-year lag and supplier-provided data for these categories is 2019 emissions.

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.

Source of the emission factors and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used:DEFRA Voluntary Environmental Reporting Guidelines: Including streamlined energy and carbon reporting guidance, 2020; Energy Information Administration EIA-1605(2020); Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Scope 2 Guidance (an amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard); IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, 2006; The Climate Registry: Default Emission Factors (April 2020); The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition); U.S. EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, 2020; U.S. EPA Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule; U.S. EPA Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID), 2019; GWP - IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5 – 100 year); IEA GHG Emissions from Electricity Generation, OECD/IEA, Paris, 2020. (Year 2018 data); Environment Canada National Inventory Report 1990-2018 (2020 submission).

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 the GHG Protocol and completed with the approach and methodologies applied in previous years, with updates as needed to ensure methodologies remain current. ENGIE Impact’s Carbon Manager platform is the primary tool for emissions calculations, while the Scope 2 market-based figure and emissions modeling are done manually.

GRI 305-4

GHG emissions intensity

GHG emissions intensity ratio for the organization: 25.39 metric tons CO₂e/thousand subscribers

Organization-specific metric (the denominator) chosen to calculate the ratio:Thousand subscribers

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 market-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.

GRI 305-5

Reduction of GHG emissions

GHG emissions reduced as a direct result of reduction initiatives, in metric tons of CO₂e: 259,537

Gases included in the calculation: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O

Base year or baseline, including the rationale for choosing it: 2020, to highlight year-over-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 and 2

Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used:Applied eGRID 2019 (AR5) to annualized savings from 2020 completed energy reductions activities using non-baseload emission factors.

GRI 201-2

Financial implications of climate change

See our CDP Climate Change survey response.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See the Our Workforce issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See the Our Workforce issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See the Our Workforce issue brief.

GRI 404-1

Average hours of training per year per employee

See the Our Workforce issue brief.

GRI 404-2

Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

See the Our Workforce issue brief.

GRI 404-3

Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews

See the Our Workforce issue brief.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See the Our Workforce issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See the Our Workforce issue brief and our AT&T Diversity & Inclusion website.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See the Our Workforce issue brief and our AT&T Diversity & Inclusion website.

GRI 405-1

Diversity of governance bodies and employees 

See the Our Workforce issue brief, our AT&T Diversity & Inclusion website and our Proxy Statement for more information.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Privacy issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Privacy issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Privacy issue brief.

GRI 418-1

Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data

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, see our Privacy Center and Privacy issue brief.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Network & Data Security issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Network & Data Security issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Network & Data Security issue brief.

N/A

Network & data security 

See our Network & Data Security and Network Quality & Reliability issue briefs as well as AT&T Business: Cybersecurity. 

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Technology Innovation issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Technology Innovation issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Technology Innovation issue brief.

N/A

Technology innovation

See our Technology Innovation issue brief.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Product Life Cycle and Waste Management issue briefs and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Product Life Cycle and Waste Management issue briefs.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Product Life Cycle and Waste Management issue briefs.

N/A

E-waste and product end-of-life management

See our Product Life Cycle and Waste Management issue briefs.

GRI 103-1

Explanation of the material topic and its Boundaries

See our Accessibility & Affordability issue brief and our Stakeholder Engagement Assessment.

GRI 103-2

The management approach and its components

See our Accessibility & Affordability issue brief.

GRI 103-3

Evaluation of the management approach

See our Accessibility & Affordability issue brief.

N/A

Accessibility & affordability

See our Accessibility & Affordability issue brief.