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Hi Dubai
28-07-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Chamber of Commerce Awarded ‘Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability Seal'
Dubai Chamber of Commerce, part of Dubai Chambers, has been honoured with the 'Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability Seal', recognising its proactive role in promoting sustainability values and responsible business practices in the UAE. The seal was awarded for the chamber's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Label initiative, launched by the Centre for Responsible Business. The program supports companies in evaluating their ESG maturity while encouraging broader adoption of sustainable, ethical, and governance standards. Designed for companies operating for at least two years, the ESG Label helps businesses align with global best practices, enhance their brand image, and boost investor confidence by demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility and environmental stewardship. The award reflects the UAE's wider efforts to embed sustainability across all sectors and supports the country's vision for a greener, more responsible future. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Mid East Info
25-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Dubai Chamber of Commerce awarded ‘Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability Seal'
Chamber achieves prestigious recognition for its role in promoting sustainability Dubai, UAE – Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has been awarded the 'Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability Seal.' The award comes in recognition of the chamber's pioneering role in advancing sustainability values and driving positive impact, in line with the UAE's vision to build a more sustainable future. The chamber received the seal for the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Environmental, Social, and Governance ESG Label initiative, which was launched last year by the chamber's Centre for Responsible Business. The initiative is designed to support companies and organisations in assessing their readiness and maturity in adopting ESG standards while recognising their efforts to promote sustainable growth. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce ESG Label is designed to encourage the business community to adopt and develop practices that have a positive impact on society and the environment, as well as promote good governance, by recognising participants' efforts to advance sustainability. It acknowledges companies' efforts to support sustainability and motivates broader adoption of ESG practices. Organisations of all sizes that have been established for at least two years are eligible to apply. Companies that successfully apply for the label will benefit from alignment with ESG best practices, enhanced brand image and reputation, and added value for potential investors. The framework promotes ESG ownership within organisations by benchmarking ESG practices against key parameters and peer companies in the region and globally. Participating organisations receive a feedback report highlighting any areas for improvement, together with a maturity level score based on their overall ESG rating. As part of the label's development process, a thorough assessment was conducted by globally recognised ESG experts, which examined global and regional regulatory landscapes and reporting frameworks to identify the critical factors in determining an organisation's ESG maturity. The business community was also consulted during the development phase to help shape the framework, which is aligned with global best practices and meets the local and international baseline for ESG reporting and preparedness. ESG has emerged as a strategic priority for organisations of all sizes, creating a need for companies to integrate sustainability goals into their core business practices and operations. This includes adopting transparent reporting standards, reducing environmental impact, enhancing social responsibility initiatives, and ensuring governance practices align with ethical principles. Dubai Chamber of Commerce's Centre for Responsible Business plays a pivotal role in promoting responsible and sustainable business practices in the emirate and is committed to supporting and motivating companies to adopt best practices in ESG to enhance their performance, increase competitiveness, and enrich their social and environmental contributions. The centre provides a range of platforms and tools, as well as access to knowledge and expertise, to help companies embed governance, sustainability, and social responsibility throughout their operations.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Bengal Govt's Matir Srishti Project transforms 42,000 acres of drought-hit land — with some help from farmers
By Debasmita Chowdhury West Bengal's Matir Srishti Project has transformed over 42,000 acres of degraded farmland into productive land without relying on contractors, officials said. Launched in 2020, this government initiative places farmers, organized into community-based organizations, at the heart of land restoration and livelihood creation, officials said. Prabhat Mishra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, described how the initiative has become a beacon of hope for farmers struggling with increasingly difficult conditions, during a conference — 'Investing in Nature: Ensuring Sustainability Through Partnerships'– hosted by Nature Environment and Wildlife Society in collaboration with Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) at Taj Kutir, Kolkata on Wednesday 'When we started this project, we were dealing with highly degraded land where surface runoff was washing away topsoil, leaving farmers with little hope,' Mishra explained. 'But we've learned that when nature presents challenges, it also offers opportunities.' Mishra said that the Matir Srishti project is different from traditional government programs; it's not a contractor-based model. Instead, the project groups landowners into community-based organizations registered under the Societies Act, complete with their own bank accounts and decision-making authority. 'The landowners pool together 5-10 acres of land under CBOs. This helps them in becoming implementers, not just beneficiaries as no contractors are involved,' said Mishra. The project has brought over 42,000 acres of micro-planning across 5,455 sites, with plantation activities completed on more than 12,000 acres, focusing on fruit trees like mango, cashew, dragon fruit, while allowing for intercropping to provide for early income. (Debasmita Chowdhury is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Experts, govt. officials call for urgent need for ecosystem restoration in West Bengal
Emphasising the urgent need for large-scale ecosystem restoration in the face of escalating climate uncertainties, Prabhat Kumar Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), West Bengal government, underscored the significance of the State's 'Nodi Bandhan' initiative in reconnecting rivers and wetlands to mitigate flood risks. 'Restoration of ecosystem is complex since there are multiple linkages which are not always visible. Hence there is need for strong partnership with academia to ensure that the solution is technically correct,' Mr. Mishra said, while participating in a discussion on 'Investing in Nature for Climate Resilience and Biodiversity Conservation'. The West Bengal government, in its Budget 2025-26, allocated ₹200 crore for the Nodi Bandhan scheme, aimed at arresting river erosion using hydrological models. The Additional Chief Secretary further noted that ecosystem restoration cannot be attempted in isolation, and emphasised the need to involve local communities in the process. Speaking at the forum jointly hosted by Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS) and Centre for Responsible Business, Mr. Mishra highlighted the challenges posed by rising salinity levels and the increasing frequency and intensity of cyclones in the Sundarbans, which are adversely impacting local communities. He also observed that corporate investment in ecosystem restoration across the State has been increasing, and reiterated the government's intent to engage more intensively with the private sector to promote nature-based solutions. Amit Mitra, Principal Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister and Finance Department and former Finance Minister of the State, spoke on the growing importance of sustainability and multi-sectoral partnerships to mitigate climate risks and prevent biodiversity loss. Dr. Mitra urged corporates to work closely with civil society and government to scale effective initiatives, preserve biodiversity, and contribute to a sustainable future. Speaking as the chief guest, he said the West Bengal government had partnered with the World Bank to excavate 700 silted creeks in the Sundarbans. Ajanta Dey, Joint Secretary and Programme Director, NEWS, stressed that while there was a time when humanity altered nature, the present moment demanded a return to nature. She noted that this effort required a multi-disciplinary approach. 'Multi-stakeholder partnerships are the need of the hour to address biodiversity loss, and shape a sustainable future,' she added. A discussion paper titled Role of Businesses in Biodiversity Conservation in India was also launched at the forum. The deliberations focused on a range of themes including investing in nature for climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, financing ecosystem restoration, and the role of businesses in conservation efforts.
Hi Dubai
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Businesses Embrace ESG as Awareness and Adoption Rise in 2025
A new survey by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce reveals a sharp rise in awareness and implementation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices among companies in the emirate, marking a shift towards more responsible and sustainable business operations. Conducted by the Centre for Responsible Business, the 2025 ESG Pulse Survey found that 72 percent of participating companies are familiar with ESG standards, and half are actively adopting ESG-related initiatives. The findings reflect growing momentum among Dubai's business community to align with global sustainability standards. Corporate values and institutional goals were cited as the main drivers behind ESG implementation, followed by regulatory compliance and the desire to enhance reputation and competitiveness. Large companies led the way in adoption, with 87 percent confirming active ESG initiatives. Multinational corporations followed closely at 83 percent, while 46 percent of SMEs reported similar efforts. Among sectors, professional, scientific, and technical activities topped the list, with 55 percent of firms implementing ESG initiatives. The insurance, financial services, and real estate sector followed at 52 percent, with the transport and storage sector at 50 percent. On the environmental front, waste management emerged as the top initiative, followed by efforts to reduce pollution, address climate change, and promote sustainable procurement. Social initiatives focused primarily on transparency and communication, while governance priorities included ethics, compliance, leadership, and risk management. The survey also highlighted growing circular economy practices, with businesses adopting advanced recycling, collaborating with external stakeholders, and developing sustainable products. The findings signal a notable shift in how companies across Dubai are aligning with ESG standards—driven not only by regulation but also by a broader commitment to long-term value and responsible growth. News Source: Emirates News Agency
