OVH has demonstrated the desire to drive the Lagos state Environmental Sustainability initiatives which aims at protecting the environment, Yemisi Izuora writes
Environmental sustainability is often talked about as a fundamental subject that significantly impacts all aspects of our lives and considered a crucial component of economic development.
As global efforts are key to ensuring environmental sustainability, there has been an overarching drive from organizations across the globe to improve standards of living by investing in green projects. Thus, ‘going green’ has become a cliché suggesting the adoption of environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, aimed at encouraging sustainable living, protecting the environment and its natural resources for present and future generations. Conversely, many organizations (large and small) are guilty of significantly polluting the environment through processes and practices that are simply not sustainable.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, spearheaded by the United Nations via the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been a major contributing factor to recent environmental sustainability efforts. With the post-2015 agenda in full swing, countries including Nigeria have begun localizing the SDGs, from a global agenda to strategic city actions – protecting the environment from degradation, sustainably managing natural resources and taking action on climate change that can support the needs of the present and future generations.
Following these resolutions, a few organizations in Nigeria have developed and implemented the roadmap for investing in environmental sustainability and driving socio-economic advancement vital to business continuity. The Nigerian energy sector has especially witnessed a major shift on how businesses infuse sustainable practices into their business operations – the introduction of eco-friendly products and services, reduction in waste generation and disposal and the development of operational structures that help reduce the greenhouse effect – thus setting the pace for other enterprises.
OVH Energy is one of such organisations driving the strategic importance of environmental sustainability in demonstration of its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its business practices and environmentally responsible collaborations. Its recent partnership with Big Leaf Foundation is in line with the company’s commitment to actively support the fight against climate change and its impact.
This collaboration saw the donation of ornamental tree seedlings to Lagos State Government through LASPARK for onward planting along the Lekki expressway in the Lagos metropolis; the company also organised the cleanup of Atican beach within the Okun Ajah community and carried out an awareness campaign on appropriate waste disposal methods with members of the community; its employees also led a green walk in Badore, Ajah and facilitated awareness talks on Climate Change in Badore Community School Ajah.
OVH Energy recognizes that trees have highly consequential impact on pollution levels and temperatures and they play a vital role in balancing CO2 and oxygen levels, hence its public-private partnership involvement in support of the Greener Lagos Initiative. Mr. Azeez Ganiyu, Head LPG, and Marketing, OVH Energy said that this initiative is in line with OVH Energy’s environmentally-focused corporate initiative to promote a green environment. “Our collaborative action with Big Leaf is an indication of our strategic commitment to an organization to support initiatives geared at protecting our environment from the impact of climate change through tree planting; trees essentially produce oxygen into the atmosphere and absolve all harmful pollutants such as CO2 thus improving the air quality and cushioning the effect of ozone layer depletion on humans and the environment.”
OVH Energy’s support for the Greener Lagos Initiative in partnership with Big Leaf Foundation is not an isolated occurrence, but a part of the company’s larger strategic vision of promoting a healthy environment by advocating the adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas for cooking as opposed to its hazardous substitute of kerosene and firewood. The company has executed numerous projects to validate this position including the LPG Switch Campaign which seeks to switch local soup kitchens and homes from harmful pollutants to an environmentally friendly cooking option, LPG. Other initiatives include the O-Gas Teens Can Cook competition and the NYSC Kitchen Switch. Through intellectual debates on environmental effects of LPG adoption and usage, youths are being encouraged to adopt LPG as a cleaner, healthier and safer cooking options.
OVH Energy has also demonstrated organizational commitment to environmental sustainability through the adoption of management system approaches to environmental and social risks and its ISO 14001 standard sets her roadmap for Environmental Management Systems – the pathway to business sustainability. The CEO, Olaposi Williams stated that “OVH Energy has moved from a culture of accountability to that of ownership and this cuts across every cadre in each business unit. Incorporating environmental management in all we do helps us promote sustainable living as looking after environmental health is crucial to safeguarding current and future generations”.
Organizations must consistently show demonstrable commitment to minimizing the impact of their business operations on the environment by complying with all relevant environmental legislation and regulations, planning policies and related initiatives, setting environmental objectives and targets to ensure continuous improvement, and putting measures in place to monitor and report on environmental management initiatives. When they work closely with stakeholders advancing good environmental management standards, they are able to significantly contribute and uphold best practices in environmental sustainability.