Budapest, June 17, 2011 15:30

Magyar Telekom was placed second in the Hungarian Business Leaders Forum's (HBLF) "Business World for the Environment 2011 Award". The company was nominated with its climate strategy within the frame of which the group level carbon dioxide (CO2) emission was reduced with 6% between 2005 - 2008 and with a further 6,65% between 2008 - 2010. The most recent target of Telekom - within the company's five year climate strategy - is to reduce CO2 emission with 20% until 2015. Telekom's nomination - besides the company's own measures - also included tools with which Telekom helps its customers to lead a more environment-friendly lifestyle.

Éva Somorjai, Chief Human Resources Officer of Magyar Telekom, said: "We are aware that as one of the biggest companies in Hungary the mitigation of our environmental impact, including the reduction of our carbon dioxide emission, is a significant social, environmental and economic achievement in the region. We are very happy that our ambitious climate strategy and our success in this field are acknowledged and appreciated outside the company. Within the frame of our hello tomorrow! initiative, launched in December, 2010, we keep working that sustainable growth should be near not only to our hearts, but also to more and more individuals and organizations, as livable future is our joint responsibility."

The Y2011 awards were given to the winners at the HBLF award winning ceremony by Borbála Czakó, President of HBLF and Dr. Gyula Bándi, Professor of Pázmány Péter Catholic University, a member of the award panel. Magyar Telekom won the second prize. The company was nominated in the "Management" category that was established for organizations that - based upon their mission and vision - continuously improve their sustainable growth achievements. Telekom nominated with its group level climate strategy which has key priority within the company's sustainability strategy. With the help of the climate strategy the company reduced group level carbon dioxide (CO2) emission with 6% between 2005 - 2008 and with a further 6,65% between 2008 and 2010. The latest target of Telekom in the five year strategy is to reduce CO2 emission with 20% compared to the basis year of 2004. In addition Magyar Telekom intends to join the group of European companies which would like to prompt the EU to increase its CO2 reduction target set for 2020 from 20% to 30%. The nomination did not only include Telekom's CO2 reduction plans, but also tools for customers to contribute to environmental protection efforts. These tools include green products/services as well as awareness initiatives with which customers may reduce their ecological footprint and may lead a more environment friendly lifestyle. The nominations for the EU Environment Protection Committee's Y2012 biannual "European Business Awards for the Environment" will be selected from among the HBLF winners.

The Hungarian Business Leaders Forum (HBLF) established the "Business World for the Environment Award" in 2000 to honor environment protection and sustainable growth efforts of Hungarian business organizations, to enhance environment friendly corporate leadership methods and to popularize the thought of sustainable growth. The condition of submitting nominations was that the relevant applicant should have written environment strategy and policy, concrete projects in 2010 - 2011 and proven achievements in the field of environment protection.