Cisco works with other ICT organizations through industry partnerships on CSR issues. Collaboration helps us refine our CSR policies and initiatives to better address important issues in areas such as The Environment and Our Value Chain.

By participating in these partnerships, we also can be involved in industry responses to new regulations, help to develop standards, and promote the use of ICT solutions as a driver for sustainability.

We collaborate with industry through the following organizations and partnerships:

• Alliance for Telecommunications Solutions (ATIS): Cisco is a contributor to the Telecommunications Energy Efficiency Committee of ATIS, which aims to identify industry standards that facilitate interoperability of telecommunications products and services. Cisco was the coeditor of the ATIS Telecommunications Energy Efficiency Ratio (TEER) standard for measuring switch and router energy efficiency.
• Carbon Disclosure Project: an independent organization that encourages companies to publicly disclose their climate impacts and take action to reduce emissions. Cisco has responded to the CDP survey since it began eight years ago. We also support CDP by donating Cisco WebEx and Cisco TelePresence for its meetings with investors and members.
• Clinton Global Initiative (CGI): This nonpartisan initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation focuses on expanding visibility, influence, and impact by building and strengthening partnerships with business and government leaders and nongovernmental organizations worldwide. These goals align well with Cisco's own business strategy. John Chambers and members of his leadership team actively participate in the annual and midyear CGI meetings.
• DIGITALEUROPE: Cisco cochairs the group on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) of this multi-stakeholder partnership that engages on environmental regulations in the EU.
• Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC): an organization which promotes better working and environmental conditions in global electronics supply chains. Cisco participates in the Environmental Work Group and has collaborated with the EICC to establish a chain of custody for essential materials (see Story Highlight).
• EnergyStar: a program dedicated to environmental protection through energy efficiency. Cisco participates in EnergyStar programs to set standards for network equipment, such as set-top boxes, displays, and data center equipment.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders: a partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Cisco has been a member since 2007 and announced its 25 percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal through the program (see Energy and Climate Change).
• EPA Green Power Partnership: a partnership between the EPA and organizations interested in purchasing green power. Cisco is a member of this partnership and has ranked in the top 10 of the National Top 50 partners for several years.
• Ethics and Compliance Officers Association: Cisco shares its expertise in this association for individuals who are responsible for their organization's ethics, compliance, and business conduct programs.
• Global e-Sustainability Initiative: Cisco leads the European policy working group and participates in the climate change working group of this industry partnership dedicated to promoting sustainability through ICT.
• Green Grid: Cisco is working with industry peers on data center energy efficiency best practices through this global consortium of IT companies seeking to improve energy efficiency of data centers.
• International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI): Cisco has a leadership role in this industry consortium, which focuses on supply-chain and environmental issues.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU): Cisco is a member of the UNESCO/ITU Broadband Commission on how ICT companies can help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals, and we partner with the ITU to provide approximately 70 Cisco Networking Academy centers in developing countries. Cisco also contributes to the development of standards on issues such as ICT and the environment and serves as a collaborator in the ITU's work to build a culture of cybersecurity.
• The Climate Group: an independent organization working with government and business leaders on policies and technologies to enable a low carbon economy. Cisco has transferred leadership and governance of the Connected Urban Development program, a public-private partnership aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic development, to The Climate Group (see Innovation for a Sustainable Future).
• United Nations Solving the e-Waste Problem Program: Cisco participates in the Policy and Recycling task forces alongside other industry, NGO, governmental, and academic participants to develop a sustainable approach for managing electronic waste.
• World Economic Forum (WEF): This impartial and not-for-profit foundation focuses on improving the state of the world. Cisco contributes to WEF global initiatives such as Education, Health, Climate Change and Corporate Global Citizenship. Cisco also collaborates with the WEF on industry initiatives such as Cloud Computing, Construction and Real Estate, Personal Data, Smart Grid and ICT and Sustainability. John Chambers and members of his leadership team attend the annual meeting in Davos, and a broad spectrum of corporate and regional executives participate in the regional summits as well as industry and global initiative events.