Page 32 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Zain Highest Ranked MEA Operator in CDP Global Index on Climate Change

Zain Group, the leading mobile telecom of the Group said, "At Zain, we are aware to fulfilling its promise to make systematic
innovator in seven markets across the of the urgent need to address the climate changes through the CDP, and to provide a
Middle East and Africa, announced its crisis the world faces, and we also realize transparent framework for climate change
inclusion in the global list of the CDP that to achieve sustainable growth, we reporting. Zain’s climate action plan has
with an advanced rating in Management must participate in global efforts to protect set targets to reduce emissions, reduce
Scope ‘B’ for the Climate Change Index. the planet and preserve its resources. Zain waste, and align with UN Sustainable
This rating makes Zain the highest ranked has taken significant strides towards Development Goal number 13. The
and only telecom operator in the Middle addressing its environmental footprint by company is committed to building climate
East and Africa to achieve this positive setting goals to reduce carbon emissions, change scenarios that would help limit
rating with respect to its efforts to address reduce waste, raise awareness, and global warming to 1.5℃ compared to pre-
climate change. As an active member of the identify risks and opportunities for climate industrial levels, and the company strongly
GSMA Climate Action Team since in 2019, change.” Al-Kharafi continued, "Having this believes this strategy will help achieve
Zain begun disclosing its environmental high ‘B’ rating in recognition of our efforts a reduction in emissions, and operating
impacts, energy consumption and carbon to disclose and reduce the carbon footprint costs, while also mitigating risks related
emissions through the CDP, a non-profit of our operations will spur us further in to climate change. CDP manages the
organization with regional offices in 50 dedicating ourselves to the regulatory global disclosure system for investors,
countries. There are now companies, cities reforms included in the Paris Climate companies, cities and regions to manage
and regions in over 90 countries disclosing Agreement of 2015. Moreover, disclosure their environmental impacts, and is viewed
emissions data to the CDP Foundation, of climate measures is a strong indicator as representing the gold standard for
which is also recognized by prominent of transparency for our customers and environmental reporting with the most
global indicators, including the MSCI Index investors." Al-Kharafi concluded, "In comprehensive set of data on corporate and
of Environmental, Social and Corporate conjunction with trusted partners such city actions. Over 560 investors investing
Governance (ESG), which reflects the as the CDP Organization, it is imperative in assets valued at US$106 trillion, rely
evolving needs of investors who aim that we intensify our own efforts to on information provided by CDP to help
to integrate indicators. For the second make environmental reporting and risk guide their investment decisions, and more
year in a row, Zain succeeded in meeting management a commercial standard, as than 150 buyers with over US$ 4 trillion in
the requirements stipulated by the CDP this will help us build stronger partner and procurement spending, utilize CDP data to
for membership, remaining one of a few supplier relationships with organizations support their investment strategies and
signed-up members from the region. Zain that are jointly committed with us to purchases. CDP collaborates with a large
attained the ‘B’ rating within the category disclosing carbon emissions, and working number of stakeholders in a wide range
of global companies that disclose the together towards making this a cleaner, of areas including Business Organization
environmental impact of their operations, more sustainable world.” Only 35% of the for Social Responsibility (BSR); World
which indicates that the telco exceeded 9,600 companies and institutions included Business Council for Sustainable
the global average of ‘C’, and the regional the CDP list attained Management level Development (WBCSD); Global Reporting
average for Asian markets of ‘D’. Bader score or higher, of which Zain was one, Initiative (GRI); Sustainability Accounting
Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice-Chairman and CEO emphasizing the company’s commitment Standards Board (SASB); Climate
Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB); World
Wildlife Federation (WWF); Alliance for
Institutional Transparency (ACT); Science
Based Targets Initiative (SBTi); United
Nations Global Compact (UNGC); and
United Nations Climate Change Initiative
(UNCC). The mobile telecommunications
industry is working to become completely
transparent about climate emissions for
the industry. The sector has developed
a roadmap for climate action at the
industry level, with the aim of achieving
"net-zero" greenhouse gas emissions by
2050, and reducing carbon emissions by
50% by 2030, in line with the Paris climate
agreement.

32 FEB-MAR 2021