International property company Sonae Sierra has joined the global Recovery Better initiative, pledging to follow a sustainable path out of the global health crisis, in parallel with over 150 multinational firms.
Sonae and other global green pioneers have signed a commitment drawn up by the Science Based Targets initiative and its campaign partners, the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition.
The statement urges governments all over the world to integrate climate action into their economic recovery plans following Covid-19, while reaffirming the commitment to science-based decision-making of the partipating companies.
Governments are being asked to adopt sustainability policies and targets in order to reduce vulnerability to future shocks and disasters, create good jobs, and reduce emissions.
Fernando Guedes de Oliveira, CEO of Sonae Sierra said: 'The lockdown is projected to shrink global growth dramatically, putting a big number of companies in a survival mode and requiring strong and concerted efforts by everyone towards economic recovery.
'We are living in a context that challenges us in our purpose and ambition to contribute to solve the most relevant environmental and social challenges of today. There is no doubt that our business has been affected by these critical times; but it is just as clear that our long-term commitment to sustainability is as strong as ever. To secure our common future, we have to keep to ambitious goals. Climate action should be at the heart of recovery plans to ensure we are rebuilding an inclusive and resilient, zero-carbon economy.'
The Science Based Targets initiative notes: 'With the coronavirus, we are facing a global pandemic that is devastating for persons and for their livelihood, since it interrupts supply chains, intensifies inequalities and reverses the progress of the sustainable development objectives.' At the same time, 'we continue to face a global climate emergency with irreversible impact on persons and all-natural systems.'
