Dangote Cement partners UNEP, NESREA on environmental sustainability

To reduce carbon emission, Dangote Cement Plc has established partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to promote environmental sustainability.

The group has also collaborated with the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre, and Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) as part of initiatives to mark the 2022 World Environment Day (WED) across its 14 production plants in Nigeria and Africa.

The Dangote Cement’s Environment Week programme supports African countries and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) joint venture (JV) agreement to invest in carbon avoidance and offsetting projects.

In carrying out the initiatives, Dangote Cement engaged experts on the occasion of the WED held recently to build the capacity of employees, local communities and other stakeholders on biodiversity conservation and progressive reclamation of mining sites.

The company also set up a biodiversity garden at one of its mines in Nigeria to serve as model. Other issues discussed were soil rehabilitation and carbon mitigation.

Speaking at the forum, the Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Michel Puchercos, said the company-demonstrated support for governments’ efforts by contributing to climate solutions that would reduce Nigeria’s carbon emissions.

The forum brought together about 560 participants from the manufacturing and extractive industries, academia, government agencies, international agencies, civil society (NGOs), media and environment enthusiasts across Africa.

The Head of Sustainability, Dangote Cement Plc, Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba, said the organisation is complementing government efforts through collaboration with stakeholders in civil society and industry.

She said: “The WED commemoration avails us opportunity to create awareness on sustainability initiatives to conserve the earth and maintain the values of biodiversity.”

According to Okoroba, the initiatives were aimed at entrenching sustainability consciousness across the business’ value chain and exploring ways to protect the ecosystem in the communities its operates.

Okoroba also announced the release of the Dangote Cement’s 2021 Sustainability Report, which was published in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standard.

The Head of Environment and Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Tukur Lawal, said the objective of the initiative was to make mining sites safe for current and future land use.

Specific goals, he said, include creating awareness among mining personnel, enabling mining stakeholders to understand the processes of identifying and evaluating species, flora and fauna.

Lawal said: “The company is ready to engage with stakeholders to conserve biodiversity, mitigate carbon emission and make the environment safer.”

Speakers at the forum argued that sustainable land management should be a priority for industry. They also agreed that businesses whose activities affect soil and biodiversity should restore the soil by funding recycling, ensuring green development and support the natural habitat, while developers’ should integrate biodiversity in pre and post-development.

Speaking virtually, one or the participants Igazeuma, urged the participants to draw lessons from Dangote Cement in the alignment with UN SDGs to Corporate Social Responsibility programming.

An impact report released at the end of the forum advocated that biodiversity loss should be mitigated through collaboration with government environment agencies, local communities, NGOs and educational institutions.

Participants also called for greater awareness for the public to understand the species of plants and animals that should not be consumed to avert extinction.