At the Carbon Disclosure Project event that kicked off Climate Week in New York City, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) announced that it reduced its carbon footprint 10% in fiscal year 2008, the most recent full-year data available. The firm decreased its carbon emissions by more than 30,000 metric tons and remained on track to achieve its four-year carbon emissions reduction goal of 20% by 2012.

The baseline for comparison is data from an FY07 carbon footprint analysis, which showed PwC's greatest environmental impact stemmed from emissions created by travel, office workspace and partner and staff commuting. PwC has made great strides in reducing its emissions -- and expects to generate significant short and long-term cost savings -- through sizable investments and behavioral change from its people as they support a healthier, more sustainable environment. Examples include:

• Travel: Investments and individual actions have helped reduce PwC's travel emissions by 19,440 metric tons, 18% between FY07 and FY08.
• Responsible printing initiative: Within 12-18 months, 52 PwC offices will receive new, energy-efficient, multi-functional printers that default to double-sided printing and also enable toner cartridge recycling. As offices undergo this transition, 30% recycled content paper will be purchased to support local behavioral changes around printing less.
• Green information technology: In FY09, PwC began construction of a new, state-of-the-art, Tier 3 data center. The data center is targeting a gold certification for environmentally sustainable construction through the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system. PwC was recently recognized by Computerworld as one of the Top Green IT Organizations.
• Real estate strategy: PwC's largest 29 offices -- or 84% of total occupied square footage -- will undergo energy audits and remediation that will make the firm's rented properties more energy efficient and reduce our energy consumption by an estimated 18%. In FY09, the firm remediated its Houston office to help reduce energy consumption there by an estimated 50%.

"Environmental excellence is part of a larger effort to set a high standard for corporate responsibility," said Robert Moritz, U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Through our strategic actions, we believe that we can more effectively help clients better understand and manage risks, costs and reputation issues that can impact their business."

PwC established its carbon reduction goal last fall during the launch of the Carbon Disclosure Project. At the time, the announcement was a rarity in the professional services industry. It underscored the firm's corporate responsibility commitment and its expertise as a service provider in the area of sustainability.

PwC's announcement coincides with the start of Climate Week, during which hundreds of government and business leaders from around the world are converging upon New York City for a series of high-level meetings and events focused on the critical issue of climate change.

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PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 155,000 people in 153 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

© 2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. "PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers

PwC firms provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to enhance value for their clients. More than 161,000 people in 154 countries in firms across the PwC network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. See pwc.com for more information.

© 2011 PwC. All rights reserved. "PwC" and "PwC US" refer to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

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