Employees of Standard Chartered Gambia Ltd will this week celebrate World Environment Day (WED) by participating in various activities, aimed at raising awareness on environmental issues and encouraging positive action in the wider community to protect the environment.

“Consequent to our 16, 000 tree planting initiative and our “Go Green” campaign run last year, Standard Chartered Gambia has organised a series of initiatives and events spreading over seven days which will include a variety of activities on education and awareness programmes on environment for our staff”, says a press release from the bank. 

Staff in all locations of Standard Chartered Gambia will be encouraged to participate in a quiz on the environment Wear Green on Friday as their contribution to marking the day and look after a plant for a year, participate in an Environment talk from an expert from the National Environment Agency at our Kairaba Branch on Saturday June 6 2009.

Humphrey Mukwereza, CEO, of Standard Chartered Bank Gambia says: “Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing the planet, and as a business, we take our responsibility towards protecting the environment very seriously. The enthusiastic involvement of our employees is essential to help us achieve our own carbon footprint targets and to promote environmental standards amongst customers and other stakeholders. We encourage them to take action at work, at home and in their communities to raise awareness, stimulate action and reduce their impact on the environment.”

Standard Chartered’s approach to protecting the environment is part of the Bank’s broader sustainability agenda, which views all actions in terms of their environmental impact, and economic and social contribution.

Dr. Tim Miller, Director of People, Property and Assurance at the Standard Chartered Bank says: “The human and financial cost of climate change is already apparent in our markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with many countries struggling to provide the basic necessities of access to safe-drinking water, energy, food and healthcare.

“Protecting the environment is critical to ensuring we have a sustainable business as a bank, creating value for our shareholders, supporting our customers, contributing to the economy as a whole - and being a force for good in the communities in which we live and work,” the release stated.

Established by the United Nations in 1972, World Environment Day is commemorated annually on June 5th to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and encourage political attention and action. UNEP’s (United Nations Environment Programme) designated theme for World Environment Day 2009 is ‘Your Planet Needs You-Unite to Combat Climate Change’ - reflecting the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen on December 7th 2009.