Mumbai: Vedanta, the world’s leading natural resources company, has signed a declaration on climate change by pledging to move towards carbon-neutrality at the Second India CEO Forum on Climate Change.
The mission is to take the country to net zero emission goal through specific emission measures, including the promotion of renewable energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water-efficient processes, green mobility, planned afforestation, and waste management & recycling.
Mr. Prakash Javadekar, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Information & Broadcasting; & Heavy Industries & Public Enterprise, addressed the CEO Forum on Climate Change.
Mr. Sunil Duggal, CEO, Vedanta Group said, “We as a company remain fully supportive of the govt. initiative to work towards a net zero emission goal and are committed to minimize our carbon footprint. At Vedanta we have a philosophy of ‘Zero Harm, Zero Waste & Zero Discharge’. We are well on course to substantially de-carbonize our operations over the next decade in line with the sentiments expressed by the Hon’ble Minister. I would like to congratulate the Government of India for this important initiative and assure our full support to help India achieve its carbon commitments”
Vedanta’s in-house Carbon Forum and Innovation Cells comprise of Global experts who are actively working on solutions that can help the company reduce its carbon footprint.
With a continuous focus on responsible mining, as of March 2020, the company has successfully reduced their GHG emissions by almost 14% from 2012 baseline levels, this will help reduce more than 9 Million Tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. They generated 582 Million Units of Renewable Energy last year and have achieved 6 Million Giga Joules of Energy savings in the last 3 years. 70 projects have been implemented across various locations for the conservation of energy. In addition to setting up 40 Mega Watt solar project, wind farms with capacity of 274 MW were installed in 5 states across India.
With Vedanta’s strong commitment to its guiding principle of ‘Zero Harm, Zero Waste and Zero Discharge’, the company strives towards achieving the concept of the circular economy by recycling 88 percent of high-volume waste and by achieving 105% fly ash utilization.
Vedanta’s Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) ranking in the metals and mining sector has risen to #12 this year, as against #21 in 2019. Vedanta has been ranked #2 in the metals and mining category in the Asia Pacific region this year, as compared to #7 last year. Vedanta’s subsidiary, HZL, is ranked #5 globally and #1 in Asia Pacific Region in Metal & Mining Sector by Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Hindustan Zinc (HZL) has also been declared water positive – a significant achievement in its fight against climate change.
To periodically assess the progress in targets, Vedanta Sustainability Assurance Program (VSAP) is employed across operations and the observations are keenly monitored.
With a goal to onboard 33% women at senior levels, Vedanta strongly concentrates on the culture of inclusion and diversity. Through focused efforts, Vedanta has achieved 28 percent women representation in its decision making bodies.
Through Vedanta’s flagship community development initiative, Nand Ghar, the company aims to positively impact the lives of 8.5 crore children and 2 crore women across the nation. Project Nand Ghar, an Anil Agarwal Foundation initiative, in coordination with the MoWCD, is transforming the Anganwadi ecosystem in India by modernizing infrastructure and focusing on services for eradicating child malnutrition, providing interactive education, access to quality healthcare, and empowering women by providing skill development. Nand Ghar has rolled out 1700th centres so far with the vision of setting up 4000 Nand Ghars across India by 2021. Recently Anil Agarwal Foundation partnered with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the MoWCD to set up 500 Nand Ghars in Uttar Pradesh over the next 12 months.
