Mohammed Shosanya
Sahara Group in partnership with Treedom is planting a minimum of 2,000 trees annually across Africa.
These initial set of trees will absorb more than 450 tonnes of CO2 over the next 10 years. This collection of trees called ‘Asharami Groves’ will be planted in the conglomerate’s locations of operation across Africa, starting with Cameroon (900 trees) and Kenya (1,100 trees),a statement said.
This collaboration is part of Sahara’s efforts to drive environmental sustainability. Treedom is a social organization that aims to support sustainable development through tree planting. Since Treedom’s establishment in 2010, more than 3 million trees have been planted across Africa, South-East Asia, and South America. All trees are planted directly by local farmers, bringing environmental, social, and financial benefits to their communities.
According to Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, “Sahara Group is committed to taking ambitious actions to address climate change, and our collaboration with Treedom is a significant step towards achieving our sustainability goals. We believe that planting trees is one of the most effective ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and we are proud to partner with an organization that shares our vision of a sustainable future.”
Gray said Sahara Group remained committed to environmental sustainability and would continue to champion efforts geared towards preserving the environment and creating a better future for all. Sahara Group recently announced its 2060 net zero plan, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This is in commitment to driving sustainability through reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy efficiency, and adopting renewable energy sources.
Speaking on the significance of this partnership, Mario Pacifico, Managing Director Treedom, Mario expressed his excitement over Treedom’s partnership with Sahara and the impact that it would achieve.
“Treedom is happy to be partnering with Sahara to plant a minimum of 10,000 trees over the next 5 years. We see the energy industry as an area that must actively contribute to positive climate impact, which Sahara will be doing through our agroforestry projects in Cameroon and Kenya. Additionally, our farmer partners will be directly benefiting socially and economically at the same time through these projects” Pacifio added.
Sahara Group’s partnership with Treedom builds on previous tree planting initiatives, such as the planting of 1000 trees on a 2km range vegetation at Egbin Power Plc (a Sahara Group Power generation company) planting 1000 trees, helping to maintain the ecosystem balance. With about 140 electric scooters and buggies, Egbin’s ‘Go-Green’ initiatives cuts back 670,000kg of CO2 emission annually.
In addition, Ikeja Electric, a Sahara Group power distribution company pioneered the switch from paper-based to e-bills in a bid to promote sustainability. At the First Independent Power Limited (FIPL), another member of the Sahara Group family, a journey manager app digitally tracks movements that require the use of company vehicles, thereby reducing unnecessary vehicle usage and promoting more efficient transportation and environmental sustainability.