OREANDA-NEWS. March 23, 2012. International Paper received prestigious Climate Leadership Award. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) (formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change), and The Climate Registry (TCR) who organized the award, recognized International Paper for aggressively managing and reducing green house gas (GHG) emissions.

"This award reaffirms our commitment to continuous improvement and reductions in our environmental footprint. Efforts to improve the environment are most successful when stewardship and business results go hand-in-hand," said Teri Shanahan, International Paper vice president of Sustainability.

During the past decade, International Paper has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels by 40 percent and has committed to reducing another 20 percent by 2020. "We are also proud of the fact that close to 70 percent of our energy needs are being met with carbon-neutral biofuels," Shanahan added.

"International Paper and all of our Climate Leadership Award winners demonstrate that organizations who are taking action to mitigate climate change are also operating more efficiently, more innovatively, and more competitively," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation.

International Paper was one of 20 organizations, including IBM, UPS, Intel and Ford Motors, and the only forest products company, recognized for its leadership in addressing climate change and reducing carbon pollution.

Franz J. Marx, President of International Paper Russia, commented: "In Russia we strongly encourage continuous improvement in the sustainable management of forest resources, especially tree planting. At our facility in Svetogorsk we are investing in technology which helps us to produce our own energy from renewable resources. We are also building strategic partnerships with innovative institutions, such as Skolkovo, to deliver new approaches about the importance of sustainability."