"Afforestation"
Building on this partnership, the two parties launched the "Afforestation" initiative to support national efforts to promote environmental sustainability and protect plant diversity. The initiative's first steps began with the planting of 50 local trees in the Al Muntather Reserve on Mleiha Road, in the presence of a group of officials from SIB and the EPAA, along with a number of volunteers and environmentalists.
The initiative aims to plant 5,000 trees by the end of the year, according to a well-thought-out plan that reflects a long-term commitment to sustainable environmental practices. This initiative features an innovative incentive mechanism to enhance community participation, whereby a tree is allocated for planting for every new bank card issued. This initiative aims to encourage individuals and institutions to actively contribute to afforestation projects and instill a sense of environmental responsibility to ensure the sustainability of these efforts.
Integrating sustainability concepts into the corporate environment
Mohammed Abdullah, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, emphasized that this partnership with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority is a pivotal step towards enhancing environmental awareness and establishing the concept of sustainability as part of the corporate culture. He said: “We at Sharjah Islamic Bank are proud to build this unique partnership with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, which represents a pivotal step towards consolidating the concepts of environmental sustainability and enhancing community awareness of the importance of protecting natural resources. Our commitment to sustainability is not limited to banking aspects only, but also includes supporting purposeful environmental initiatives and finding innovative banking solutions to achieve a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability, in line with the UAE’s vision to promote sustainable development.”
He added that the bank is committed to making a positive and sustainable impact on society, noting that customers are key partners in this initiative, as every banking transaction made using the bank's cards contributes to supporting national efforts to protect the environment, in line with the National Ghaf Tree Planting Strategy, which reflects the UAE's long-standing environmental values.
Embodying the spirit of effective partnership
For her part, Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah, noted that the initiative embodies the spirit of effective partnership between institutions to achieve shared environmental goals and enhance efforts to instill a culture of environmental awareness in society. She added, "We are pleased with this partnership with Sharjah Islamic Bank, which reflects our institutions' commitment to social responsibility towards the environment. This initiative represents an exemplary model for adopting sustainable practices that contribute to achieving the UAE's ambitious environmental vision." Her Excellency explained that the Authority is continuing its efforts to expand green spaces and nature reserves and strengthen strategic partnerships with various entities, emphasizing that the support of financial institutions and the private sector for environmental projects constitutes an important tributary that contributes to achieving sustainable development.
Joint environmental initiatives to promote sustainability
Under the strategic partnership, the two parties will work to launch a series of ongoing and innovative environmental initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity, and combating climate change.
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