Telstra has set the most ambitious carbon emissions targets of any major Australian corporation to date, after it unveiled plans to become carbon neutral this year and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030.

Telstra chief executive Andy Penn said the plan addresses what he sees as the biggest risk to climate change - believing it is someone else’s problem to fix.

"Events including Australia’s black summer of bushfires have raised urgent questions in the community about what climate change means and, more importantly, what must be done," Mr Penn said. "The science is clear. Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is creating risks that impact our economy, our environment, our communities and each of us individually."

Last month Telstra CEO Andy Penn told an Amcham audience that action on climate is urgent, but he avoided getting political on the issue. Credit:David Crosling

For 2020, Telstra said it plans to improve the energy efficiency of its networks and invest in carbon offsets to counteract the balance of its emissions and achieve carbon neutrality this year.