New research from Australian telco Belong has revealed only around 8% of Australians realize mobile data contributes to carbon emissions.
This is despite mobile data networks in Australia causing in excess of an estimated half a million tonnes of CO2 every year.
As a result Belong has become Australia’s first accredited carbon neutral telecommunications provider – with all operations and services certified ‘carbon neutral’ at no extra cost to its customers.
Belong CEO, Ben Burge, said the organization is dedicated to helping Australians understand their ‘carbon thumbprint’, arming the general public with easy steps to help reduce their emissions.
“More than half of Australia’s CO2 emissions are a product of energy use – either directly or as an output from the products and services we use. We don’t see the physical and tangible process which cause these emissions. Therefore, awareness around carbon usage is understandably very low,” said Burge.
In a bid to raise awareness, Belong has launched its Carbon Thumbprint campaign including the Carbon Thumbprint App where consumers are able to easily calculate their mobile data carbon effect.
“The point of the campaign is to make it easier for people to contribute positively to the environment. By switching to an accredited carbon neutral provider, consumers are turning an everyday habit into a positive change and the app helps them get there,” said Burge.
