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Emirates Environmental Group launch Corporate Social Responsibility Network

Posted: 21 March 2004

Building Partnerships for a Sustainable Future

In a landmark gathering held recently at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai, the premier voluntary organisation in the country, Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) launched a region wide Corporate Social Responsibility Network.

The seminar and dinner was the meeting point of a cross section of business and government leaders, and officials from high-level institutions, including the United Nations.

EEG’s ambitious plans to form a regional network of businesses and corporations were revealed in the annual dinner hosted by the Group for its corporate members last year. For an organisation that has been at the helm of environmental awareness and protection related work with the corporate sector for more than a decade, it was a logical outcome to expand its scope of operations and target the influential sector in yet another powerful initiative. As the onus of transparency and ethics shifts increasingly towards those that are involved in economic activity and resource consumption, EEG makes this laudable move to gather under its umbrella organisations that demonstrate a serious intention to commit more than mere allegiance to the concept of social responsibility, and lead a joint action towards societal and environmental development. It will bring into greater focus the local and regional efforts undertaken at the corporate and civil society levels to further the case of CSR in the Middle East.

In her welcome address, EEG’s Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi called on the corporate sector to take up the mantle of leadership and stewardship for CSR and sustainable development. She urged EEG’s member corporations to put full thrust behind the path-breaking venture to make it one of the first of its kind and premier networks in the Region promoting exemplary corporate behaviour and effecting tangible economic, social and environmental gains. “Corporate Social Responsibility is often understood as the private sector’s contribution to sustainable development. It must therefore not only balance responsibilities to the environment, society and the economy today, it must also ensure the future sustainability of those three elements. A sustainable approach would teach people the skills to earn their own way and become customers, suppliers or partners to your own organisation – a more fruitful investment in the long run.

The United Arab Emirates has been evolving as a regional leader in commerce and finance, and the time is opportune for showing the way in ethical investments, transparent business practices and better corporate management. We may not have the legislative framework of some other countries, nor the public pressure to behave responsibly, but as a nation we are proud of our heritage and have always striven to deliver world class products and services. The country has always had great respect for its natural environment, and much of this success in balancing economic and social development with environmental stewardship is down to our visionary leaders. It is fitting then, that the business hub of the Middle East should also lead the way in CSR. Upholding the highest international standards will not only boost the reputation of us all collectively but attract foreign investment. Recognizing this potential, the EEG has embarked on an ambitious programme to collaborate with leading public and private enterprises on solving environmental problems and promoting sustainable development through the concept of CSR. The EEG sees its CSR network as a tool for facilitating open and transparent business policies and practices based on ethical values that have a sustained positive impact on business, society and environment.” said Mrs. Marashi.

The opening address was delivered by H. E. Dr. Salem Al Dhaheri, Director General of the Federal Environmental Agency (FEA), on behalf of the Guest of Honour H.E. Hamad Abdulrahman Al Midfa, Honourable Minister of Health of the UAE and President of FEA. The Guest of Honour lauded the efforts made by the Group to rally key sectors in environment protection and sustainable development.

The Keynote address was delivered by the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Office in the UAE, H. E. Nadir Hadj-Hammou. Mr. Hadj-Hammou gave a presentation on the United Nation’s perspective on corporate social responsibility and called for multi-sectoral cooperation to add strength and support to the EEG-led partnership. “Given the excellent record of the UAE of being an innovator, perhaps the UAE could become a center of excellence for brain industries that could promote CSR in the region. We, at the UN, stand ready to support such an ambitious but constructive endeavor”, said Mr. Hadj-Hammou.

The last speaker for the evening was Hope Sherwin, EEG’s CSR consultant. Her presentation touched on the definition of CSR, the triple bottom line, drivers of CSR and global trends in CSR. Elaborating on the historic development of CSR, Ms. Sherwin commented,” Although CSR incorporates the three elements: environmental, social and economic, corporate accountability has its roots in the green or environmental movement of the 1960s and 70s. For the first time people were considering the future of the planet and questioning the universal immunity afforded to companies all over the world. Today after several industry-triggered environmental and human disasters and economic scandals, companies are moving away from defensive reactive responses and adopting more proactive, engaging approaches. Companies are increasingly taking part at the international level in initiatives to work towards sustainable development. For example, the business community took an active part in the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 and the Johannesburg declaration comments on the contribution the private sector can make in areas of accountability and social equity.

Many organisations are working with the corporate sector to find ways to manage CSR, drawing on the wisdom of the United Nations declarations and ILO conventions in many cases. The financial benefits of conducting business in a responsible way are numerous. As the cliché goes, good business is good for business.

CSR is not just a fad or a passing phase. Unlike many passing fads such as the dot.com boom of the 1990s, CSR is here to stay. This partly because so many business leaders who are committed to CSR cannot have got it wrong and also because CSR came to the fore as a response to dramatic global changes – globalisation, which is also here to stay.

In the Millennium Poll, a survey of public opinion on CSR, two in three citizens said they wanted companies to go beyond their historical role of making a profit, paying taxes, employing people and obeying all laws; they wanted companies to contribute to broader societal goals as well. In forming impressions of companies, people around the world focused on corporate citizen-ship ahead of either brand reputation or financial factors.”

Aims and objectives of the EEG’s CSR programme are to demonstrate commitment to the global sustainable development agenda, contribute to the national initiative for sustainable development in the UAE, position the UAE as a leader in Business Excellence and CSR in the region, promote the voluntary adoption of CSR policies and practices among businesses in the region, showcase examples of best practice CSR activities undertaken by corporate organizations and public sector enterprises, identify benchmarks and key indicators to sustainable growth, develop a national databank of CSR case studies to boost research into CSR implementation and a network for liaison and partnerships with entities that are engaged in CSR programmes at national, regional and global levels.

After the flag-off event, the EEG CSR team will conduct a set of 4 seminars/workshops in the course of the year. These include a seminar on Waste and Recycling in May, Environmental Law in June, CSR in the Middle East in September, and Eco-tourism in November. A series of brochures and on-line reports will be released to coincide with each seminar. International speakers will be invited to take part, and companies from here will be invited to present case studies. Public sector enterprises from the UAE will also be involved in these seminar/workshops. This will comprise the first phase of the CSR network.

The second phase will target a wide range of other CSR related topics and other specific sectors including Oil & Gas, Shipping, Construction, Aviation, Transport, Courier, Hospitality and Retail, Tourism, Healthcare, Education, Banking and Finance, IT and Telecom, Media and Communications, etc. It will also entail a dedicated website, e-forums and e –discussions, consultancy services, etc.

The evening concluded with a dinner hosted by EEG courtesy active corporate member JW Marriott Hotel.

The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a voluntary, non-profit, non-government organization (NGO) devoted to protecting the environment through means of education, action programs and community involvement. The organization is open to men and women of all nationalities. EEG is actively encouraged by the Department of Economic Development Government of Dubai and supported by the concerned local and federal government agencies.

For more information see www.eeg-uae.com

Posted by Richard Price, Editor Pipeline Magazine

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