South African Corporates take Carbon Emissions Seriously

 

For immediate release

22 October 2009

 

Nedbank Group Tops the South African Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2009 Leadership Index

 

The National Business Initiative (NBi) announced the results of the 2009 South Africa Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Report Leadership Index in Cape Town last night, on the eve of the United Nations Environment Finance Programme Initiative (UNEPFI) Round Table.

 

Nedbank was declared the 2009 overall winner of this prestigious leadership index, a shift that saw a move up from 4^th place in the 2008 CDP leadership index. Other corporates that placed included Bidvest Group, Woolworths Holdings, BHP Billiton, Goldfields and Sappi.  

 

 ‘While Nedbank’s reputation as South Africa’s ‘green’ bank has recently been cemented by a number of highly publicised industry accolades and awards*, including now topping the CDP 2009 Leadership Index, our position as a truly environmentally aware organisation is not the result of ad hoc environmental interventions. Rather, the external realisation of our green credentials is the natural consequence of a deeply ingrained commitment to a culture of sustainability - one that runs throughout our operations and is embraced as a value by our staff members, business partners, suppliers and other stakeholders.’ says Tom Boardman, Chief Executive, Nedbank Group.  

 

The Global CDP is the largest source of transparent information on carbon emissions in the world. By promoting higher levels of disclosure and transparency regarding carbon performance, the CDP is succeeding in significantly strengthening the case for emissions control as a strategic imperative for all organisations. It aims to provide investors with reliable information on the business risks and opportunities presented by climate change, and raise awareness within business on the impacts of climate change on company value.

 

Nedbank’s participation in the CDP forms part of its commitment to taking the lead in the promotion of climate change awareness and activism, a commitment that was further cemented with its recent move towards becoming carbon neutral.

 

The bank is working towards reducing its carbon footprint by means of a robust, well entrenched carbon management programme, which includes ongoing awareness creation, energy efficiency targets, paper and waste reduction initiatives, travel reduction, and various other methods of internal carbon reduction.

 

‘Nedbank is serious about influencing others to follow our lead, by linking environmental considerations to all our financing activities, an aggressive green procurement policy that encourages suppliers to operate in an environmentally friendly manner, and a Green Affinity that raises awareness among our clients of the need to be environmentally aware and affords them the opportunity to contribute towards conservation projects simply by utilising affinity-linked Nedbank products,’ Boardman states.

 

‘If our years of involvement in preserving the environment have taught us anything, it is that we have a responsibility to leave the planet a better place for tomorrow’s generations.  And we, at Nedbank, can think of no better way of achieving that than by ensuring we tread on it as lightly as possible today,’  he concludes.     

 

Ends

 

 

Notes to the Editor:

 

*Recent Nedbank Accolades include:

• Best Socially Responsible Bank – African Banker Awards
• ‘Leading Green SA corporate’  - Ask Afrika 2009 Trust Barometer
• Top Honours Financial Sector - ACCA SA Sustainability Awards
• Only SA bank to be included in the Dow Jones World Sustainability Index

 

 

Issued by Nedbank Group Communications         

Contact: Kerri Savin

              Tel: 011 295 5672

              Cell: 082 672 7571

  Email: kerris@nedbank.co.za