Financial Mail Green Economy 2023 March

Page 24

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ARTICLE

Supporting a climate-friendly world By Malixole Gwatyu, AVBOB’s Manager for Communications

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limate change has become part of our everyday lives. Society cannot immediately reverse the clock or undo the climate impact overnight. We can, however, act by doing the right things and learning to adapt to our new reality. As climate change and the effects thereof continue unabated, the need for corporates to reduce their impact on the environment is of vital importance. In South Africa, there are efforts to limit emissions, and the Presidential Climate Change Commission is overseeing and facilitating a just, equitable transition to a low-carbon economy and climate-resilient society. If we are to secure a future for our business, our employees and our members, it is vital that all stakeholders contribute to the sustainability of our world by investing in initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint. As a mutual society, AVBOB recognises the need to manage the relationship between our business, society and the environment. We understand the value of evolving and moving with the times. Over the past century, we have had to adapt to numerous challenges and have adopted an agile approach to the many facets of our business. AVBOB’s sustainability initiatives are a major differentiator in how we give back to society. We partner with communities to deliver tangible benefits and value over the long term. In doing so, we boost the economic engines of tomorrow by improving the lives of our members and stakeholders today. Adopting new ways of doing Globally, the depletion of natural resources continues to place a strain on the environment. Going green not only makes the entire planet sustainable and habitable but also helps everyone, as it enables

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FINANCIAL MAIL ESSENTIALS • GREEN ECONOMY 2023

Malixole Gwatyu, AVBOB’s Manager for Communications

humanity to preserve the environment by adopting new ways of living in harmony with nature. In recent years, and more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have become aware of the challenges that municipal cemeteries face, such as limited burial space in many major metropolitan areas. Furthermore, the negative impact that the burning of fossil fuels has on the environment is an issue that concerns all of us. At AVBOB, we know that we have both a direct and indirect impact on the environment, which is why we are deeply committed to preserving our natural resources. In running our operations, we measure our impact on the environment constantly and go to great lengths to reduce any negative impact. With this in mind, in 2019, AVBOB introduced aquamation in South Africa – a planetfriendly alternative to traditional flame-based


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