Disney seeks to slash its carbon emissions in half

McClatchy newspapers
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 10 March 2009 15.54 GMT

The Walt Disney Company wants to cut company-wide greenhouse gas emissions in half during the next four years, and reduce electricity consumption by 10% over the next five, as part of a series of environmental initiatives outlined yesterday.
The chief targets: Disney's theme parks, resorts and cruise ships, which, according to internal figures, account for 91% of the company's total greenhouse gas emissions through boilers, generators, refrigeration systems, cruise-ship engines and more. The group also accounts for 73% of Disney's total electrical use.
"Clearly, our biggest footprint is with the theme parks and resorts. So we know we've got a lot of work to do with them," said Beth Stevens, Disney's senior vice president of environmental affairs.
Disney released the environmental goals just ahead of what is expected to be an otherwise sombre annual shareholders meeting today in Oakland, California.
The Burbank, California-based media and entertainment company has been hit hard by the global recession, which has depressed sales of everything from theme-park tickets to television advertising to DVDs. Company earnings tumbled 32% during the first quarter of its fiscal year, which ended on 27 December, and Disney is slashing jobs across its operations.
Shares in Disney closed yesterday at $15.59, half its price from when shareholders met last year in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Disney's environmental plans were part of a 100-page Corporate Responsibility report posted online yesterday. In addition to reducing or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions - the company's goal is to cut in half its forecast 2012 emissions - and cutting electricity consumption, Disney said it aims to cut in half the amount of garbage generated at its parks and resorts by 2013.
Disney said the environmental targets are interim steps toward long-term goals of achieving zero net direct greenhouse gas emissions, reducing indirect emissions through electrical consumption, and eliminating all garbage sent to landfills.
Eric Draper, a lobbyist for Audubon of Florida, called the targets and timetables set by Disney "pretty aggressive". He said the plan to cut electrical consumption by 10% was especially promising. "That's more than you're going to get just replacing light bulbs," Draper said.