Mercuria CSR Report 2021 - Flipbook - Page 82
SDG13 (Climate Action)
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
The 2021 UNSDG Report observed that a brief reduction in human activities resulted in
a dip in emissions, but concentrations of greenhouse gases increased in 2020 to reach
new record highs. However, as of December 2020, the UN reported that over two thirds
of the world’s GDP was being generated in places with actual or intended “net zero by
2050” targets. These countries represent over half of the world’s population and emissions. Mercuria has implemented steps across all its offices with regard to its concern
for the climate. Of even greater benefit within this SDG is the company’s development
effort tied to the targeted shift in its asset holdings also highlighted in this report.
SDG13 (Climate Action)
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development.
The 2021 UNSDG Report highlighted that more than 3 billion people rely on the ocean
for their livelihoods, and over 80 per cent of world merchandise trade is carried out
by sea. It also mentioned that safeguarding key biodiversity areas (KBAs) as crucial
to the sustainability of oceans. As half of the world’s KBAs are outside of any form
of protection, the UN stressed the importance of utilizing satellite tracking data to
pinpoint breeding grounds and feeding sites crucial to the preservation of these and
other species. The growing importance of ocean and shipping data is why Mercuria
and Minerva Bunkering are providing fuel data to the Ocean Data Platform Initiative
(https://oceandata.earth/) to promote increased transparency for environmental
impacts from shipping as well as promote data-driven solutions in green shipping.
SDG16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,
provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and
inclusive institutions at all levels.
The 2021 UNSDG Report highlighted that it is still commonplace in many countries to
be asked to pay bribes to access essential public services such as water, electricity, and
healthcare. The UN warns in the report that “the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented opportunities for corruption” and stressed the importance of transparency and integrity to fight it globally. Mercuria sees its deliberate efforts to support transitional and renewable energies in its portfolio as an effective and means of advancing
not only the Global interests concerning climate change, but also to help ensure shared
and common access to energy supplies for all communities. It also provides an opportunity for those communities to increase transparency and to fight corruption.
SDG17 (Partnership for the Goals)
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global
partnership for sustainable development.
The 2021 UNSDG Report observed that the multilateral and global partnerships
were severely strained by the pandemic. Although overseas development
assistance (ODA) increased by 7% from OECD countries, foreign direct
investment (FDI) dropped by 40 per cent in 2020. However, new renewable
energy projects was the one bright spot in terms of increased investment
activity (as compared to pre-COVID levels). Mercuria continues to support the
development and implementation of new reporting frameworks on sustainability
such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) stakeholder capitalism metrics
(https://www.weforum.org/stakeholdercapitalism/our-metrics).
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