“While the recent worldwide spotlight on global warming and conservation is essential in calling the nations of the world to action, it is imperative that governments and corporations guard against the temptation of using this global focus as a political or business platform.” That’s the view of Justin Smith, senior manager: governance and sustainability enterprise governance and compliance for the Nedbank Group.
According to Smith, most corporations find themselves in the privileged position of being able to influence their employees, clients, stakeholders and suppliers in terms of conservation issues, while also playing a significant role in preserving the planet through their own environmentally beneficial practices.
“It’s a dual responsibility not to be taken lightly, and one that has underpinned Nedbank Group’s environmental policies and sustainability strategies for almost two decades,” explains Smith.
The Nedbank Group believes it has a vital role to play in promoting environmental responsibility and conducting business in an environmentally sensitive manner. It is this belief that saw the group joining leading international banks in adopting the Equator Principles as a guideline to ensure that the projects it finances are developed in a socially responsible and environmentally sound manner. Nedbank is the only bank in South Africa to subscribe to the principles.
Last year saw the group strengthening its direct influence on environmental and conservation issues in South Africa. Since its inception in 1990, the bank’s Green Trust has contributed more than R75-million towards conservation projects across the country — much of this channelled through the Worldwide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA). Now the group has built on its reputation as the “green bank” by entering into a fully fledged conservation partnership with WWF-SA.
“The partnership will see WWF-SA providing greater guidance in terms of Nedbank’s environmental and sustainability policies, management systems and staff training,” explains Smith, “while also affording the bank and its staff the opportunity to work more closely with WWF on conservation projects.”
Nedbank is the proud sponsor of the environment best practice in not-for-profit organisations