UniCredit is joining the Global Week of Climate Action (20-27 September) in recognition that companies and the society at large need a new approach to build a sustainable future. The bank's staff is encouraged to spend one hour on Friday 20 September 2019 focused on the topic of climate change. Employees are asked to exchange ideas with colleagues and clients about what is already being done to combat climate change and what else can UniCredit do to make a difference.
Staff has also been asked to share their best ideas through which the group can contribute to protecting the sustainability of the environment. Approximately 1,200 ideas have already been put forward by colleagues for evaluation. Read More
Jean Pierre Mustier, UniCredit CEO, commented: "To take care of our world, we can no longer continue with 'business as usual'. We need a new approach to build a sustainable future. This is an important challenge for both people and businesses. It has an impact on current and future generations, which is why we need to create awareness on this and work together as One Bank, One UniCredit, to identify new, smarter solutions to protect our future."
UniCredit's support of the Global Week of Climate Action through employee engagement is part of the group's wider sustainability efforts. This includes the ongoing review of current business policies to assess the need for updated or new guidelines with regards to climate change. Some of the bank's wider sustainability efforts further include:
- Decreasing operational emissions - 60 per cent by 2020: In 2018, the bank decreased its operational emissions by 49 per cent compared to 2008 - on target for the 2020 goal (long term target is a reduction of 80 per cent by 2030).
- Increasing use of renewable energy: Last year, 78 per cent of the group's total electricity consumption came from renewable energy sources.
- Make premises and data centres more energy-efficient: UniCredit has so far installed centralised, remote-controlled heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in around 1000 branches and energy monitoring devices in 800 branches.
- Reduce the environmental footprint, operational costs and emissions of the group: In 2018, UniCredit reduced its office space by 172,000 square metres in Western Europe alone.
- Plastic-free project: The bank has launched a plastic-free project in line with the European Directive 2018/0172 in order to significantly reduce the use of plastic across UniCredit's offices and branches by 2020.
Milan, September 20, 2019
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