The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) provides a collection of standards to help measure and communicate performance on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) topics. AT&T has aligned its reporting to the GRI-recommended disclosures since 2008.
Our fiscal year 2021 reporting is prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards. The content index below provides AT&T’s information for universal Standards and relevant topic-specific Standards, which align to topics identified in AT&T’s most recent ESG material issues assessment.
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General Disclosures |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 2-1 |
Organizational details |
See our 10-K Form (cover page and part 1). |
GRI 2-2 |
Entities included in the organization’s sustainability reporting |
AT&T reporting covers AT&T Inc., unless otherwise noted in the footnotes of our issue briefs. AT&T Inc. is referred to as “we,” "our" or “AT&T” throughout this index. The entities included in our sustainability/ESG reporting align with those included in our annual 10-K and quarterly financial reports, which cover all company-owned or -controlled operations. Quantitative metrics include DIRECTV data through the divestiture of that unit in July 2021, as well as Vrio data through the divestiture of that unit in November 2021 – unless otherwise footnoted. |
GRI 2-3 |
Reporting period, frequency and contact point |
Period: Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2021, aligned to our financial reporting |
GRI 2-4 |
Restatement of information |
Relevant restatements are included in respective issue briefs. See the issue briefs listed in our Reporting Library for more information. |
GRI 2-5 |
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 FY2021, S&P Global Sustainable1 assured calculations of our Scope 1, 2 and 3 (select categories) greenhouse gas emissions as well as select categories for our Scope 2 and 3 energy use. For more information, please see the Independent Accountant's Report. |
GRI 2-6 |
Activities, value chain and other business relationships |
In April 2022, we completed a transaction to combine our WarnerMedia segment, subject to certain exceptions, with a subsidiary of Discovery, Inc. In July 2021, we completed a transaction with TPG Capital involving our North America video business – including DIRECTV, AT&T TV and U-verse – to form a new company called DIRECTV. In November 2021, we completed the sale of our Latin America video operations, Vrio, to Grupo Werthein. In June 2022, we completed the sale of the programmatic advertising marketplace component of Xandr Inc to Microsoft. For more information, see our 10-K Form (part 1). |
GRI 2-7 |
Employees |
See the Our Workforce issue brief and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website for employee data. Our data is reported in headcount as of the end of the year 2021. |
GRI 2-8 |
Workers who are not employees |
AT&T is not able to provide this data, as it is proprietary and confidential. |
GRI 2-9 |
Governance structure and composition |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief and our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-10 |
Nomination and selection of the highest governance body |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief and our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-11 |
Chair of the highest governance body |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief and our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-12 |
Role of the highest governance body in overseeing the management of impacts |
See the ESG section of our Proxy Statement and the Our Corporate Governance issue brief, as well as other issue briefs in our Reporting Library for information on how the Board of Directors oversees company efforts relative to our most important ESG topics. |
GRI 2-13 |
Delegation of responsibility for managing impacts |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief and the ESG section of our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-14 |
Role of the highest governance body in sustainability reporting |
The Governance and Policy Committee (GPC) assists the AT&T Board of Directors (the Board) in oversight of environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, including related policies, programs and ESG reporting. The Audit Committee of the Board oversees our enterprise risk assessment activities and audit functions, which incorporate ESG risks and disclosures. For more information, see the ESG section of our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-15 |
Conflicts of interest |
See our Code of Ethics, Code of Business Conduct and the Our Corporate Governance issue brief. |
GRI 2-16 |
Communication of critical concerns |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief and the ESG section of our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-17 |
Collective knowledge of the highest governance body |
See our Proxy Statement and the Our Corporate Governance issue brief. |
GRI 2-18 |
Evaluation of the performance of the highest governance body |
See our Proxy Statement and Corporate Governance Guidelines. |
GRI 2-19 |
Remuneration policies |
See our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-20 |
Process to determine remuneration |
See our Proxy Statement. |
GRI 2-21 |
Annual total compensation ratio |
See our Proxy Statement and Annual Report. |
GRI 2-22 |
Statement on sustainable development strategy |
See the CEO letter in our annual ESG Summary. |
GRI 2-23 |
Policy commitments |
See our Policies page. |
GRI 2-24 |
Embedding policy commitments |
See our Policies page and the issue briefs in our Reporting Library for more information on how we embed policy commitments for responsible business conduct in our business activities addressing our most important ESG issues. |
GRI 2-25 |
Processes to remediate negative impacts |
See the issue briefs in our Reporting Library for more information on our managerial and programmatic approach to addressing our most important ESG issues. |
GRI 2-26 |
Mechanisms for seeking advice and raising concerns |
See the Our Corporate Governance and Environment, Health & Safety Compliance issue briefs as well as the AT&T Code of Business Conduct. |
GRI 2-27 |
Compliance with laws and regulations |
See the AT&T Code of Business Conduct as well as the Our Corporate Governance and Environment, Health & Safety Compliance issue briefs. You may also reference additional issue briefs in our Reporting Library for information on responsible business conduct in our business activities addressing our most important ESG issues. |
GRI 2-28 |
Membership associations |
AT&T contributes to industry associations and coalitions, such as the Motion Picture Association of America, United States Telecom Association 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 2-29 |
Approach to stakeholder engagement |
See our ESG Material Issues. |
GRI 2-30 |
Collective bargaining agreements |
AT&T Communications has approximately 37% union-represented employees – one of the largest full-time union-represented workforces in America. See the Our Workforce issue brief for more information. |
Material Topics |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-1 |
Process to determine material topics |
See our ESG Material Issues. |
GRI 3-2 |
List of material topics |
In 2021, we conducted an ESG material issues assessment that included feedback from external stakeholders and AT&T employees. We updated our material topics as reflected in this GRI index and in the Issue Briefs listed on our Reporting Library web page. See our ESG Material Issues for more details. |
AT&T Material Topic: Network Quality & Reliability |
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GRI 201: Economic Performance |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
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 10-K Form. |
AT&T Material Topic: Digital Divide & Affordability |
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GRI 203: Indirect Economic Impacts |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
See our Digital Divide issue brief. |
GRI 203-1 |
Infrastructure investments and services supported |
See our Network Quality & Reliability, Community Engagement and Digital Divide issue briefs. |
GRI 203-2 |
Significant indirect economic impacts |
See our Network Quality & Reliability, Community Engagement and Digital Divide issue briefs. |
AT&T Material Topics: Regulatory Compliance; Business Ethics/Ethical Culture |
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GRI 205: Anti-Corruption; GRI 206: Anti-Competitive Behavior |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief and Code of Business Conduct. |
GRI 205-3 |
Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief. |
GRI 206-1 |
Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust and monopoly practices |
See the Our Corporate Governance issue brief. |
AT&T Material Topic: Energy Efficiency & Renewables |
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GRI 302: Energy |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
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: 10,632,232 GJ Total fuel consumption within the organization from renewable sources, in joules or multiples, and including fuel types used: 34,501 GJ In joules, watt-hours or multiples, the total:
Note: Data includes purchased/consumed energy as well as non-fuel self-generated energy (owned solar). Energy sold (including electricity, heating, cooling and steam sold) is not applicable. AT&T’s large-scale renewable projects are settled in the energy marketplace and not factored into section 302-1. Total energy consumption within the organization, in joules or multiples: 61,121,009 GJ Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: Calculations are based on published criteria, such as emission factors and global warming potential (GWP) values. 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 such as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Thermal Energy Conversions Technical Reference to convert from native unit of measure (gallons or MMBtu) to MWh, and then from MWh to GJ (x * 3.600). |
GRI 302-3 |
Energy intensity |
Energy intensity ratio for the organization: 56.50 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: 1,758,364 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. |
AT&T Material Topic: Climate Change & GHG Emissions |
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GRI 201: Economic Performance; GRI 305: Emissions |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
See our Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions issue briefs. |
GRI 201-2 |
Financial implications and other risks and opportunities due to climate change |
See our CDP Climate Change survey response. |
GRI 305-1 |
Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
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Gross direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO2 equivalent: 997,129 MT CO2e Gases included in the calculation: CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs Biogenic CO2 emissions in metric tons of CO2 equivalent: N/A 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 MT CO2e Source of the emission factors and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used: DEFRA/DECC Conversion factors for Company Reporting (2021); The Climate Registry: Default Emission Factors (2021); Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance: an amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (2015); IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006); The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard Revised Edition (2004); U.S. EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership (2021); Environment Canada National Inventory Report 1990-2019 (2021 submission); IPCC Fifth Assessment Report – 100 year GWPs (2014). 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 values. Consumption is 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: 5,212,703 MT CO2e Gross market-based energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions in metric tons of CO2e: 4,550,580 MT CO2e 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 MT 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/DECC Conversion factors for Company Reporting (2021); Energy Information Administration EIA-1605 (2010); Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance: an amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (2015); The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard Revised Edition (2004); U.S. EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership (2021); U.S. EPA eGRID2020 (2022); 2021 Green-e® Residual Mix Emissions Rates (2019 Data); IEA GHG Emissions from Electricity Generation, OECD/IEA, Paris, 2021. (Year 2019 data); AIB – European Residual Mixes 2020; Environment Canada National Inventory Report 1990-2019 (2021 submission); IPCC Fifth Assessment Report – 100 year GWPs (2014). 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 values. Consumption is 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: 1,833,277 MT CO2e (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). 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/DECC Conversion factors for Company Reporting (2021); The Climate Registry: Default Emission Factors (2021); Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance: an amendment to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (2015); The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard Revised Edition (2004); U.S. EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership (2021); U.S. EPA eGRID2020 (2022); 2021 Green-e® Residual Mix Emissions Rates (2019 Data); IEA GHG Emissions from Electricity Generation, OECD/IEA, Paris, 2021. (Year 2019 data) IPCC Fifth Assessment Report – 100 year GWPs (2014). 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 values. Consumption is 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: 22.45 MT 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: 316,114 MT CO2e 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): Scope 1 and Scope 2 Standards, methodologies, assumptions and/or calculation tools used: Applied eGRID 2020 and IPCC AR5 GWP values to annualized emissions savings from 2021 completed energy reductions activities using non-baseload eGRID emission factors. |
AT&T Material Topic: Talent Attraction, Engagement & Retention |
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GRI 404: Training and Education |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
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. |
AT&T Material Topic: Employee Diversity, Equality & Inclusion |
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GRI 405: Diversity and Equal Opportunity |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
See the Our Workforce issue brief and our AT&T Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website. |
GRI 405-1 |
Diversity of governance bodies and employees |
See the Our Workforce issue brief, our AT&T Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website and our Proxy Statement. |
AT&T Material Topic: Privacy |
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GRI 418: Customer Privacy |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
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. |
AT&T Material Topic: Network & Data Security |
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N/A |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
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. |
AT&T Material Topic: Technological Innovation |
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N/A |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
See our Business Continuity, Longevity & Innovation issue brief. |
N/A |
Technology innovation |
See our Business Continuity, Longevity & Innovation issue brief. |
AT&T Material Topic: Disaster Response & Relief |
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N/A |
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Standard Disclosure |
Disclosure Title |
Location |
GRI 3-3 |
Management of material topics |
See our Network Quality & Reliability, Community Engagement and Business Continuity, Longevity & Innovation issue briefs. |
N/A |
Disaster response & relief |
See our Network Quality & Reliability, Community Engagement and Business Continuity, Longevity & Innovation issue briefs. |