Emirates NBD has made significant strides in enhancing its sustainability reporting practices by leveraging Microsoft Sustainability Manager to achieve remarkable efficiencies. By slashing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data reporting process time from three months to just one week, the renowned bank has not only streamlined their operations but also positioned itself as a leader in sustainable banking within the region.
The primary challenge facing Emirates NBD was the complex and time-consuming nature of data collection concerning its environmental impact. According to Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG at Emirates NBD, "If we have to wait a year to understand our environmental impact, it will take us two years to actually make a change." The implementation of the Sustainability Manager has, accordingly, revolutionized their ESG reporting, allowing the bank to make quicker, data-driven decisions.
Seema Shetty, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, added, "An exercise which previously took three months can now be completed in about a week." The transformation involved replacing cumbersome spreadsheets with intuitive dashboards, which enhanced the decision-making speed across the organization. She emphasized, "Instead of waiting for the end of the quarter or the year, we can pivot quickly based on the data." Such agile responses have proven to be integral, especially as the bank discovered its largest emissions source was IT, rather than executive travel, prompting them to invest significantly in sustainable projects, including a solar plant in Türkiye.
Initially, Emirates NBD aimed for just a 5% reduction in emissions, yet they are currently on track to achieve nearly a 50% cut. Bains remarked on this accomplishment as not only fulfilling corporate responsibility but also serving as a strong selling point to customers who are increasingly concerned about sustainability.
The bank’s shift to sustainable operations is just beginning. Plans are underway to broaden their sustainability initiatives to encompass biodiversity, water conservation, and waste management, setting new benchmarks within the banking sector. Looking to the future, Emirates NBD aims to integrate artificial intelligence technologies for managing the growing volumes of ESG data and to customize reports for diverse stakeholders. To catalyze broader adoption of these practices, Emirates NBD is also planning to provide corporate customers access to Microsoft Sustainability Manager.
Across the globe, similar milestones are being reached, as seen with the Semmozhi Poonga park project developed on the Central Prison grounds in Gandhipuram, Coimbatore. The city corporation has made substantial progress on this park, achieving around 75% completion since its groundwork began last December after the foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister M K Stalin. The project is being constructed across 45 acres and is estimated to cost Rs.161.05 crore.
A recent status report from the corporation outlined various milestones, noting 80% completion of both the open-air stadium and the entrance gate, which are expected to be operational by the end of March.
Other components show varying rates of completion, with 30% of the underground drainage work finalized and 65% completion of the ticket counter building. The compound wall is nearly finished at 95%, and work on toilets and facilities is also progressing well. The park aims to feature gardens based on 22 distinct themes including herbal, aromatic, and water restoration gardens, manifesting collaboration with the horticulture department to showcase local plant species.
With Rs. 93.44 crore allocated to the botanical gardens, the project also involves extensive infrastructure development, including parking spaces for 10 buses and 380 vehicles, with ground-level parking extending over 17,000 square meters.
A convention centre spans 4,830 square meters and is set to accommodate up to 1,000 visitors, complete with specialized entry points for dignitaries. Anticipation is building, as plans indicate the park will open its gates to the public by June.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has faced scrutiny for utilizing less than 75% of the funds allocated by the Centre for COVID-19 management, based on findings from the Comptroller and Auditor General report tabled recently. Only ₹582.84 crore of the ₹787.91 crore released has been utilized effectively, signaling potential mismanagement of public health resources during the pandemic.
From the period of 2016-2021, the impending report highlighted significant infrastructure deficits, noting only three hospitals were completed or extended during this time, and the delays reached up to six years. The report called attention to severe staffing shortages and lack of adequate medical supplies across Delhi government hospitals, showcasing bed occupancy rates as high as 189% at various facilities.
Requests for expansion included the ambitious addition of 32,000 hospital beds, yet only 4.25% of these beds had been realized. The report's findings about the Mohalla Clinics scheme also raised concerns, citing operational inefficiencies as over 70% of patients spent less than one minute with medical staff, pointing to systemic issues within the healthcare framework.
With criticism aimed at the current government, AAP representatives stressed the necessity for the ruling BJP to focus on actionable governance instead of historical blame games concerning the previous administration. “After 27 years, the BJP has finally come to power in Delhi... but what is the BJP’s real plan?” the AAP questioned, asserting the need for concrete policy implementation over rhetoric.
The multifaceted projects across Emirates NBD, Semmozhi Poonga, and the Delhi health infrastructure efforts, exemplify the ambitious aspirations and significant challenges faced as stakeholders grapple with the intricacies of development and sustainability. Each initiative reflects broader narratives within corporate and public sectors striving for efficiency and responsibility amid pressing societal needs.