PricewaterhouseCoopers, the largest professional services firm in the world, plans to cut its carbon emissions 20 percent by 2012, according to a plan announced Tuesday by the company.

The plan is based on 2007 emissions levels.

The company has spent the last 12 months measuring its carbon footprint and identifying steps that can be taken across the country as a whole, including improving infrastructure, supply chain and employee commuting. The analysis was conducted by a team of sustainability professionals who are a part of PricewaterhouseCoopers' advisory practice.

"Climate change has become a matter of managing risks, costs and reputation," said Dennis Nally, the chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, in a press release. "We believe that companies that embrace the issue of climate change will be better prepared to compete - and win - in tomorrow's increasingly constrained carbon economy. Our commitment positions us as a leader in the profession and the industry."

Beyond the environmental benefits, PricewaterhouseCoopers expects to improve costs as well as to create an advantage in recruiting talent. The move to become greener is expected to improve employee pride in the company.

The announcement was made as part of the unveiling of the Carbon Disclosure Project's Global 500 and S&P 500 reports. PricewaterhouseCoopers advised the Carbon Disclosure Project and has written a number of reports for the organization.

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