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ETHOS
SILENC | ESG
(S)ocial (I)nitiative for the (L)ove of (E)nvironment, we (N)etwork and (C)ollaborate . (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance
Answer the call of SILENC – a social initiative for the love of environment. The silence of inaction is deafening. Network & collaborate with us.
Be at the frontier in pushing boundaries for cross-border ESG initiatives.
ETHOS
SILENC | ESG
(S)ocial (I)nitiative for the (L)ove of (E)nvironment,
we (N)etwork and (C)ollaborate . (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance
we (N)etwork and (C)ollaborate . (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance
Answer the call of SILENC – a social initiative for the love of environment. The silence of inaction is deafening. Network & collaborate with us.
Be at the frontier in pushing boundaries for cross-border ESG initiatives.
ESG & THE GREEN ECONOMY
Ever increasingly, enterprises across the world recognise the importance of adopting environmental, social & governance (ESG) best practices as integral proponents in their business operations.
The Inter-regional ESG Enterprise Partner (IESGEP) programme seeks to actuate this impetus for better ecological economics, serving companies on their sustainability journey.
A strong ESG proposition creates value for all stakeholders in the commercial, environmental & social spheres.
Understanding and having an ESG strategy eases regulatory pressure on the companies and reduces companies’ risk of adverse government action and should be an integral part of market expansion plans.
Access to green finance, tech and investments, carbon services and trading is facilitated through the business matching service of the IESGEP programme.
The Overseas Business Exchange (OBEx) and Eco Stewardship Retreat (ESR) are organised annually to promote interaction and learning about the green economy and sustainable tourism.
Multi-stakeholder partnerships – engaging government trade agencies, and providers of eco-efficient products and services, with enterprises on their sustainable roadmap and the industrial zones in which they operate, promote the green economy in countries represented in the IESGEP programme.
Innovation to improve production processes and consumption practices and reduce resource consumption, is key to maximising resource efficiency and reducing waste. As we live in the digital age, digitalisation is the first step towards innovation.
Resource planning, waste management and the circular economy are intrinsically correlated to climate change, food and water security, and environmental and wildlife conservation in our evolutionary eco-system constantly disrupted by human action.
Fifteen of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) have been identified for the twelve industry segments of focus in the IESGEP programme, with its main objective as Partnership for the Goals.
Raw Materials & Chemicals Processing
As key players in the manufacturing value chain, chemical companies stand to gain an advantage through early preparation to comply with more stringent ESG standards.
Historically, chemical enterprises have conducted most of their research in-house, collaborating within innovation ecosystems only when there was a need to share risk or access new markets.
Through material innovation, technological advancements in chemical processes and better waste management systems, toxicity of harmful substances will be reduced and neutralized to prevent the destruction of fragile land and marine ecosystems.
Manufacturing
Industry leaders are marshalling ESG progress by fostering cross-industry collaboration. Best-in-class organizations are weaving ESG priorities across the business from supply chain to pioneering technologies and solutions that enable sustainability, help track and report on the new sustainability metrics.
Manufacturers of every product type play a significant role in product innovation. Industry 4.0 & advanced manufacturing enhances interconnectivity and smart automation for applications in industries such as semiconductors, medical technology, marine, offshore and aerospace. Solutions range from supply chain sourcing and logistics, product innovation and lifecycle management to net-zero energy and emissions, operations and maintenance, to an empowered workforce.
Sector leaders are leveraging technology innovation like AI, blockchain and cloud computing to reach sustainability milestones and achieve breakthroughs for their businesses.
Clean & Renewable Energy
The energy sector generates around three-quarters of GHG today. The long-term sustainable route to meeting growing energy demands rests on renewables — solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower. Low-carbon hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels are alternatives to fossil fuels in the maritime and aviation sectors.
Developed countries are leading the way in renewable energy production but, the world is spending only half of what’s needed on clean energy, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). As for hydrocarbons, the IEA net zero pathway assumes that the world could achieve net zero by 2050 purely on existing reserves so long as growth rates of clean energy sources are on track. However, if renewables spending continues to fall short, the world will face a chronic energy gap.
Agriculture & Aquaculture Technology
Urban farms operate high-tech farming systems that monitor and analyse data to raise smart farms’ production capacity.
Automating and managing urban agriculture and aquaculture systems with the deployment of sensors and control systems, robotics, Internet-of-Things (IoT), IT and data analytics, support innovative farming methods, contributing to a sustainable agri-food sector.
Habitat loss to wildlife is a consequence of human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, deforestation, resource extraction, alteration of the sea-floor due to trawling (fishing), or the release of pollutants.
With increase in production capacity using the same or less land and water resources, we will be in better position to conserve the natural habitats of wildlife.
Pharmaceuticals, Biotech & Medtech
ESG has influenced the pharmaceutical industry to change its way of manufacturing and marketing products to the public. Some rising concerns within the industry, including climate change, access to medications, drug pricing, and gouging, are combated with ESG policies and efforts. Companies in pharmaceutical industry also provide access to medications in developing countries that can save millions of lives.
Green Transportation, Shipping & Logistics
Electrification minimizes the environmental impact of the logistics network and delivery. Sustainable modes of transportation include mass transit, carpooling, car sharing, and electric vehicles. E-mobility is the way forward.
Decarbonisation of shipping has been gaining momentum as the world acts towards achieving net-zero by 2050. Reducing the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of ships requires committed action from shipping companies.
The rise of e-commerce has driven an explosion in demand for logistics — an area at the heart of the modern global economy. As a result of the industry’s massive scale, logistics businesses have the capacity to make significant improvements on lowering emissions and energy usage to drive business value.
E-Commerce, Consumer Goods & Services
Consumers care about environmental sustainability, organic-farming methods, plant-based ingredients, social responsibility, sustainable packaging, reducing carbon emissions across value chains, offering fair wages and working practices to employees, and supporting diversity and inclusion.
Circular economy: The circular economy describes a comprehensive approach aimed at allowing companies to turn a profit while conserving our planet’s resources. The focus is on developing, producing and consuming products more responsibly and sustainably. The aim is to favour renewable raw materials and energy and to reduce and avoid production waste and by-products.
Reference: ESG in Retail and Consumer Industry Sectors
Real Estate & Property Development
Real estate and property developers play a major role in shaping not just the built environment but also the natural landscape that is encroached.
ESG drivers include:
– Innovation in material science for buildings
– Sustainable construction processes
– Environmentally-friendly best practices over the building’s life cycle
– Adoption of energy efficient strategies
– Reduction of pollution and waste in housing and development
– Conservation of nature in symbiotic relation to the urban landscape
Information & Communications Technology
Businesses in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector have a significant part to play in the energy transition, decarbonisation, and attainment of net zero. The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), in collaboration with other agencies and associations including United Nations agency, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), recently published guidance for ICT companies setting Science Based Targets for greenhouse gases (GHGs) according to a set of new decarbonisation pathways.
Whilst aimed exclusively at Mobile Network Operators, Fixed Network Operators and Data Centre Operators, the guidance can be applied by companies right across the ICT sector. Combining digitalisation tools and processes reduces carbon footprint. Building the digital infrastructure for operational and energy efficiency is essential for sustainable growth. Companies are gearing up to upskill talent pools to keep up with global digital transformation.
Education & Edtech
Edtech companies are responding to climate change to invest in an environmentally sustainable future. Digital learning companies have furthered their efforts to propel UN Sustainable Development Goals and take a giant stride toward decarbonization. Industry players are gearing up to plan, report and monitor their ESG performance amidst an exponential rise in digitization.
Notably, the prevalence of online learning against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted industry leaders to achieve ESG goals. AI-based learning tools forayed into the mainstream education landscape, encouraging investors, venture capitalists and other stakeholders to prioritize ESG goals.
Financial Services & Fintech
Growth in financial services across Africa’s 54 countries will not be uniform. While the lion’s share of value in the market (approximately 40% of revenues) is currently concentrated in South Africa which has the most mature banking system in the continent, Ghana and francophone West Africa are expected to show the fastest growth, at 15% and 13% per annum respectively, until 2025. Nigeria and Egypt follow, each with an expected growth rate of 12 percent per annum over the same period.
Carbon services (carbon credits, carbon exchanges, etc.), green data and market infrastructure, as well as investment management segments represent the largest growth prospects. The sourcing, transformation, and use of data will be the critical enabler for ESG fintech to bridge the real economy and financial sectors.
Purposeful expansion of the ESG fintech ecosystem not only drives greater acceleration of capital and liquidity towards ESG causes, but also contributes significant value-add to the real economy.
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Green financing and investments in sustainable equity funds encourage green innovation through the development of such products, solutions and services.
ESG investment teams conducting detailed analysis to understand the impact of today’s issues on the investment opportunity, interact with companies and agencies, seeking to influence positive change and deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns.
High-growth companies such as those providing technology solutions with a positive impact on the environment and society deliver attractive long-term capital returns.
