CEO Summit Uganda, in partnership with Prudential Uganda, Friday June 21 challenged Ugandan businesses to integrate sustainability and ESG into their organizational operations. This call was made today at the 2024 Prudential Sustainability Forum held at Mestil Hotel and Residences in Kampala.
The Prudential Sustainability Forum was the climax of Prudential Sustainability Week, which ran from 18th to 21st June 2024. The forum brought together leaders and stakeholders from various sectors to engage in meaningful discussions on sustainable practices, including practical strategies and tools for organizations to integrate sustainability into their operations, focusing on health and financial protection.
While addressing the participants of the Forum, Stephen Mukasa, Country Team Leader of CEO Summit Uganda, acknowledged the commitment showcased by business leaders towards sustainability implementation and ESG adoption within their businesses.
“I am inspired to see all of you here today in response to our call to be part of this journey of sustainability, not only for our organizations but for Mother Earth. Today, through our panel discussions, we have explored how to integrate sustainability in health and financial protection. We have also examined practical strategies and tools for organizations to embed sustainability into their operations with a focus on health and financial protection. These conversations are not just theoretical; they are imperative for the future of our businesses and the well-being of our society.”
He added, “At CEO summit Uganda, we believe that integrating Sustainability and ESG into our organizational operations is the future and to fast-track this mission, we recently launched The Only One Earth Program, to provide invaluable knowledge and insights on the critical state of our environment. The program empowers organizations and individuals with the tools and strategies needed to effectively integrate sustainable practices into their businesses and I encourage all leaders in this forum to enroll to this program which will be valuable not only to their organizations but to the country as a whole.”
The Prudential Inaugural Sustainability Week, themed “Fostering Sustainable Practices for Health, Finance, and Business Growth,” aimed to foster thought leadership by raising awareness, engaging stakeholders, and empowering communities.
Tetteh Ayitevie, the CEO of Prudential Uganda while speaking at the forum highlighted on the importance of having such discussions that safeguard the well-being of the people in communities but as well cast a bright future on not only Uganda but the global world.
“We are proud to collaborate with the CEO Summit Uganda to create stakeholder events and initiatives focused on conversations around Sustainability and ESG, and how leadership can effectively address these challenges. Our collective efforts are crucial in driving sustainability initiatives and forums. At Prudential, sustainability is central to our mission: ‘For Every Life, For Every Future’. As a life and health insurer and long-term investor, we aim to make a tangible difference by actively working towards a sustainable, inclusive and responsible future for our customers, employees, shareholders and the communities in which we live and serve.”
According to United Nations under its 2024 Sustainable Development Report, globally, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) account for almost a quarter of total annual global GHG emissions. The Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land-Use, and Energy (FABLE) Consortium brought together more than 80 researchers from 22 countries to evaluate combinations of scenarios at the national level to assess how 16 targets related to food security, climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation and water quality could be achieved by 2030 and 2050. They found that the continuation of current trends would widen the gap between countries on targets related to climate mitigation, biodiversity, and water quality. While pursuing existing national commitments would improve the situation to some extent, these remain largely insufficient.
“The knowledge and strategies we’ve gained here are powerful tools. Let’s not only implement them within our operations, but also share them as a beacon for others. Sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint. It thrives on continuous effort, innovation, and collaboration. Together, we are making strides towards a future where sustainability is not just an add-on, but a fundamental aspect of how we operate and grow,” Mukasa concluded.
