In order to protect biodiversity, Russian Aluminum (RUSAL), one of the world’s leading aluminum producers, has approved its first corporate policy.
RUSAL’s biodiversity conservation policy emphasizes the importance of protecting biological species, especially those that are protected and their habitats. The new policy introduces a risk-based approach where risk assessments must be conducted to protect biodiversity when planning and implementing business activities.
As part of the policy, companies will assess the extent to which their work impacts on ecosystem services, i.e. the benefits that humans derive from a healthy environment and well-functioning ecosystems. Responsible biodiversity management is at the heart of the policy. For example, RUSAL’s forestry projects are already having a positive environmental, social and economic impact. These projects directly contribute to the growth of CO2 absorption, wildlife habitat protection and tourism development; they offer the possibility of implementing scientific research, educational programs, etc.
In addition to developing partnerships and collaborations with scientific, environmental, educational, governmental and non-governmental organizations, RUSAL plans to build links with local communities. Ecological monitoring and research will be conducted throughout the area where the company’s production sites are located, involving experts and communities to assess the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation initiatives.
In particular, as part of the ecological modernization of the largest Siberian aluminum plants in Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk, Serakhov and Novokuznetsk, Rusal assessed the impact of all project phases on local flora and fauna, an unprecedented effort for Rusal. An independent expert review confirmed that mitigation could be ensured by reducing emissions of pollutants, flora and fauna. As the site greening program is part of the ecological modernization program, the total urban greening of the industrial sites within the scope will increase from 10% to 37%.
Irina Bakhtina, chief sustainability officer at RUSAL, said: “According to the United Nations, more than 1.75 million species of plants and animals are currently catalogued and described, while according to some scientists the actual number of species exceeds 13 million. Despite the obvious and widely recognized urgency to protect endangered species for future generations, the number of wildlife species continues to decline at an alarming rate.”
“For us at Rusal, economic factors clearly have a direct impact on the planet’s biodiversity. We believe that our biodiversity conservation programs should be more relevant to all Rusal stakeholders: residents of the regions where the company operates, experts and scientists, our customers, employees, regulators and investors. This is the purpose of our biodiversity policy: we have ambitious plans, and we intend to implement them fully. This will help ensure sustainable living within our areas of responsibility.”
Post time: Aug-19-2022