Climate change as a subject has evolved to the extent of converging the globe to hold various conferences on how best to approach it. One of which was the 26th United Nations (UN) climate change conference dubbed as the Conference of the Parties 26 (COP 26). The rising water levels and the melting ice at the Earth’s poles are scientific consequences of global warming. There is also unpredictable weather especially in relation to previous weather records. Therefore, COP 26 was held from 31st October, 2021 to 12th November, 2021 with the aim of practically dealing with climate change. For example, The Guardian on 2nd November, 2021 captured the words, “Cautiously optimistic” as stated by Boris Johnson about the COP 26 agenda to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. African Explosives and Chemical Industries (AECI) is among the companies that intend to adapt operations to include environmentally related mechanisms in order to promote a healthy climate and sustain itself in that regard.
On page 32 of the AECI 2020 Integrated Report and Summarized Financial Statements, the Chief Executive, Mark Dytor stated the following, “I’ve highlighted the need to improve our safety performance and this is the priority for the coming year. Together with sustainability, Zero Harm is at the centre of our One AECI, for a Better World purpose-led strategy which we finalized in 2020 and is shared with you in this integrated report. We acknowledge that what we do and how we do it must contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world where we generate returns to expectations for investors and at the same time add value for all other stake holders. What we’ve already achieved and how we’ll do much more is detailed in our sustainability report published last month. This report in itself is a milestone of which I’m very proud. AECI is on an exciting journey and I look forward to sharing it.” To this effect, AECI in its agenda to promote sustainability and a better world, has on page 40 of its Integrated Report and Summarized Financial Statements made a case for this cause. For instance it aims to reduce its portable water consumption by 25 percent, by 2025. Additionally, discharge to sea or sewers and scope emissions are both projected to be reduced by 2025, by 20 percent. In light of COP 26, every company must factor in initiates to handle climate change. Another company, Rio Tinto, as can be observed on its website has taken deliberate steps which are meant to slow down the adverse impacts of climate change. Its goal projects to 2050 and shows the commitment of sustaining operations anchored on less carbon emissions and other harmful emissions. By 2050 it hopes to reach a zero emission position as was one of the major components of the Paris Agreement in 2015. Rio Tinto has been in support of climate friendly action as far back as 2015, when the Paris Agreement was taking shape.
Similarly AECI must come out more strongly on the matter as one of the emerging and leading multinational companies. Moreover, COP 26 has stressed that climate change is a subject that is compulsory in the 21st century and every company, regardless of the profit making agenda must factor it in. COP 26 clearly highlighted that a company cannot make profits at the expense of global climate. For this reason, based on AECI’s 2020 sustainability report found on its website the company aligns itself with the UN’s rationale on climate change. Consequently, it has reduced explosives waste and planted more trees in certain areas. Nevertheless, the company must sustain these initiatives by prolonging them and promoting more measures to tackle climate change whose impact is global.
In light of COP 26, AECI like any other entity in this modern era, has a responsibility towards climate change. The rising water levels or the melting ice caps are more real today because of the increasingly industrious activities whose actions, in the form of carbon emissions or harmful waste disposal to the environment have become a cause for concern. The world being led by science converged by way of COP 26 to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Companies are being encouraged to shift their processes and operations to those that are more environmentally friendly. As the world moves on post COP 26, one of the spotlights will be on AECI in order to observe how it seeks to balance profits and climate friendly operations. Bearing in mind that a climate friendly global community is a must and the world as it stands today is raising a red flag hoping for scientific measures to be undertaken to reverse the adverse impacts of climate change.
