Videoconferencing can make a significant difference in the fight against global warming, says a report from the World Wildlife Federation and the European Telecommunications Network Operators Association.

Based on experience in Germany, the report estimates that reducing European business travel by 20 percent is a realistic goal that would save 22 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. How to achieve this goal? Replace corporate travel departments with corporate meeting departments that evaluate which meetings need to be held in person; hold decentralized conferences that take place in several cities at once.

The chart below shows the potential for reducing carbon emissions in Europe through videoconferencing.

Source: ETNO/WWF