After adopting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, American Tower achieved 78 percent of its 2025 second-generation renewable energy goal in 2021, according to the company’s 2021 Sustainability Report.
To reduce emissions, more than 40 percent of American Tower sites with lighting systems were upgraded to LEDs, nearly 11,000 sites were converted to solar power, and the energy storage at almost 13,600 sites was switched to lithium-ion batteries, which significantly reduces diesel generator run time, according to the company.
“This has led to measurable progress and by the end of 2021, reducing our GHG emissions by 6.5 percent, compared to our 2019 baseline,” said American Tower President/CEO Tom Bartlett. “We are proud of this achievement, and even with our continued strong organic growth, including in markets where we provide power as a service, I see this as a testament to the efforts and investments our global teams have made to reduce the environmental impact of our and our customers’ operations at our sites.”
Along with reducing global warming, American Tower is also trying to improve the lives in the areas that it operates around the world. In an effort to provide equitable access to the internet, the company has established 308 Digital Communities in eight countries, promoting digital inclusion in underserved communities. Its goal is to establish 2,000 total Digital Communities by the end of 2026.
“To date, we have enrolled more than 200,000 students in programs focused on community education and career development—including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education, job training opportunities, certificate courses and curriculum focused on financial literacy,” Bartlett said.
American Tower’s efforts to promote an ethical, diverse and inclusive culture continued in 2022, when it became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and the UN’s Women’s Empowerment Principles.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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