Sberbank: National ESG Alliance should promote the transition to a sustainable development model the Russian market. The event was attended by the first persons of the enterprises, the correspondent of “Lenta.ru” reports. The mission of the alliance should be to facilitate the transition to a sustainable model of economic development: it will help preserve nature, support the well-being of society and the long-term prosperity of business.
Sberbank President and Chairman of the Management Board German Gref at the event revealed the tasks of the new association. “Business in Russia should unite efforts to form an agenda. This includes transparent and efficient governance, social bias and environmental conservation. We must work on creating a regulatory framework within the country, on standards, rules for checking them, on the formation of new legislation that would stimulate all members of the alliance. Lobbying the interests of Russian business in the international arena is also an important issue, “he said.
According to Gref, the founders of the alliance account for 10 percent of Russia's GDP. We are talking about representatives of ten industries, and other enterprises may join the organization. “I do not know any analogues of such alliances in the world, but I am sure that they will appear soon,” stressed the head of Sberbank.
The chairman of the board of Sibur Dmitry Konov, in turn, stressed that the association aims to understand how to develop the Russian economy, and at the same time fit into world trends in terms of the climate agenda. Ivan Streshinsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Metalloinvest, noted that ESG already influences the economy today, and in the coming years the influence will become significant. “Companies must implement climate programs and reduce their carbon footprint. But it is important to understand that the transition to ESG standards can be very expensive for many companies. We need to motivate the authorities to create mechanisms that will support companies in the transition to standards, ”he added.
The Alliance should become a permanent platform for stakeholder dialogue, which will allow business, government and society to exchange experience and knowledge, developing and promoting new norms and standards in the field of ESG. The event on December 1 was attended by top officials of Avtoban, AFK Sistema, Gazprom Neft, EuroChem, Kolmar Group, Metalloinvest, UHK Uralchem, Polyus, Prosveshenie, RUSAL , R-Pharm, SIBUR Holding, Solar Systems, SUEK, T Plus, TECHNONICOL, Transmashholding, Delo MC, Uralkali, Pharmstandard, Unilever Rus, En + Group, Eurasian Resources Group, Mercury Retail Holding, PLC O1, Properties Vos'hod Development, X5 Group.
The transformation of the economy based on ESG principles is considered important by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The head of state noted that the economy is being modernized in Russia and the transition to its digitalization is taking place. The proposal to create the organization was discussed at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2021. Then he was actively supported by representatives of the leading Russian and international companies in Russia.