HP and World Wildlife Fund Establish Climate Change Initiatives

HP today announced plans to allocate more than $2 million in cash and HP equipment to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to establish three projects aimed at addressing the causes and consequences of climate change on a global basis.

The projects, which focus on analysis, research and data collection, include:

* The Epicenter for Climate Conservation – Focused on advancing climate adaptation and resiliency strategies and projects worldwide, the Epicenter for Climate Conservation will be driven by HP technology and led by Dr. Lara Hansen, chief climate scientist of WWF.
* Climate Witness – An innovative online forum to raise global awareness of the tangible consequences of climate change, Climate Witness will gather the stories of individuals and communities affected by climate change and share them with the world.
* Information and Communication Technology Innovation as a Driver of Climate Change Solutions – This program will work to identify 1 billion tons of carbon reductions through the use of information and communication technology.

“Climate change may be the most significant environmental challenge of our era,” said Suzanne Apple, vice president of Business and Industry for WWF in the United States. “Now is the time for partnership and action. HP and WWF are committed to addressing the causes of climate change and limiting its impact on the planet.”

HP’s investment in these projects is part of the company’s ongoing initiative with WWF in the United States, first established in November 2006, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its operating facilities worldwide; develop measures for product energy usage; educate and inspire others to adopt best practices; and, use HP technology in conservation efforts around the world.

“These initiatives are part of HP’s comprehensive philanthropic and environmental strategy that uses technology to help reduce our own environmental impact, as well as that of our customers, partners and suppliers,” said Pat Tiernan, vice president, Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility, HP. “Our contribution to these projects will deliver measurable results that we hope will encourage action from corporations, individuals and governments around the world.”

Energy efficiency is a key priority at HP. The company recently announced a goal to reduce its global energy use by 20 percent by 2010. HP also plans to increase its renewable energy purchases by more than 350 percent by procuring 50 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity during 2007.