Published
17 Nov 2022
Endeavour joins the African Business Leaders Coalition
There is no doubt: the multiple impacts of climate change are disproportionately more prominent in Africa than any other part of the world. Climate action is integral to solving the continent’s most-pressing issues, and the private sector has a critical role to play.
As the largest gold producer in West Africa, we are proud to have joined the African Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC), an initiative sponsored by the United Nations Global Compact. The Chair and CEO-led coalition is committed to advancing sustainability and ambitious climate action across Africa.
The ABLC elevates the voice of 55 African companies, representing over 900,000 employees across 50 African nations and brings the African perspective to global stages – such as COP27. In November 2022, at COP 27, Sharm El Sheikh, the ABLC released the African Business Leaders’ Climate Statement, advocating for the sustainable prosperity of the continent and its people.
The effects of climate change are only becoming more apparent, and nowhere more so than in Africa. Endeavour is acutely aware of its responsibility to protect our surrounding environment, while also playing a key role in tackling climate change on a broader level.
Sébastien de Montessus
President and CEO
He added “We are delighted to be part of the ABLC and, alongside our fellow members, we believe we can help enable an equitable and just transition in Africa by addressing the social and environmental effects of climate change in the countries where we operate.”
The ABLC appealed to African governments to translate climate plans into bankable climate projects and urged the international community to exchange knowledge and technologies with local companies, communities, and governments to tackle decarbonisation and adaptation. The statement also called for the international community to provide more access to global finance for African businesses to accelerate the transition to a future-fit economy.
As part of our ESG strategy, we support the creation of resilient and self-sustaining communities through continued employment, and education, health, and clean water supply programmes.
We are also targeting zero emissions by 2050 and to reduce our carbon footprint by 30% in emissions intensity by 2030 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, through a number of initiatives including renewable and solar energy technologies at our mines and in our host communities, and biodiversity projects such as the Great Green Wall.