Friday, July 27, 2007

Yahoo Out-Greens Google?

Yahoo has taken on a leadership role on climate change action that looks to be galvanising its rivals into similar action, according to Ethical Corporation, and also gaining public approval. This is exciting especially because Yahoo, as the biggest US internet media company with 500 million monthly users worldwide, is in direct and influential contact with a huge percentage of the general public.

In May, Yahoo introduced Yahoo Green, an online education program offering environmental news, consumer tips and ideas to help consumers become personally and socially active in combating climate change. The introduction, which will ultimately be expanded to international markets, followed Yahoo’s own pledge to become carbon neutral by the end of 2007.

The company is also engaged in other online projects and parterships, including one with Wal-Mart, AC Nielsen and two federal agencies to develop 18seconds.org, a site promoting the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs. Yahoo executives say encouraging personal change is the greatest role Yahoo can play. Yahoo co-founder David Filo says the company wants to make it easy for consumers to act and help them build enduring habits that can truly make a difference.

And now, according to Global Green, which advises Yahoo on its environmental moves, Google and Microsoft are "racing to outdo one another" with environmental measures. Meanwhile even Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has apparently pledged to make its operations carbon neutral by 2010.

Read more at the Ethical Corporation article on the topic.

Posted by Perry Goldschein
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