KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service provider in Kuwait, participated in the special event held to celebrate UN Day 2022 under the title: "Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition." The ceremony celebrated the United Nations' 77th anniversary and the 60th year of Kuwait's membership in the UN and came under the patronage of Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Zain took part in the special event, hosted by the Cultural Center at Sabah Al-Salem University City, attended by Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations' Affairs Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah, Kuwait University Director Dr Yousef Al-Roumi, UN Secretary-General's Representative and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Dr Tarek Al-Sheikh, Zain Group's Chief Sustainability Officer Jennifer Suleiman, and Zain Kuwait's Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer Waleed Al-Khashti.

Zain's participation came as part of its long-term strategic partnership with the United Nations, through which the company worked on supporting many environmental, humanitarian, and community initiatives throughout the past years. Zain is keen on reflecting the private sector's role in shouldering the various international programs, especially climate change efforts. Zain is proud to be one of the Kuwaiti private sector's first companies to form a strategic partnership with the UN.

The event was attended by many social figures, public and private sector officials, diplomats, and Kuwait University executives, who all celebrated the UN Day held on 24 October of every year. This year, the event was even more special as it commemorated the UN's 77th anniversary and the 60th year since Kuwait became a member of the United Nations.

The ceremony came under the theme: "Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition," and featured a special exhibition that showcased the youth's efforts and initiatives in supporting sustainable growth and tackling climate change. The event also included many panel discussions, special talks, and workshops that were attended by youth and government officials.

Through its corporate sustainability and social responsibility strategy, Zain is committed to building climate change scenarios that are aligned with the Paris Agreement (2015) to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate physical and environmental risks. The company is well aware of the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis the world is facing today. Currently, Zain scores A- through its participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a reflection of its success in meeting the standards and requirements of the project. Zain is also one of the few companies in the region's markets to have a membership in the CDP.

Zain established an array of initiatives across its operating companies, including the distribution of reusable bags to all employees, and installing water coolers to reduce the use of plastic bottles. The company also developed its first comprehensive Scope 3 inventory process aligned with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol guidelines for a more accurate and transparent evaluation of its value chain emissions. This allows it to not only disclose and report in a more concise manner but be able to identify areas in which it can reduce its GHG emissions.

Zain continues to address its strategic approach to addressing climate change under its 2020-2025 sustainability strategy. Climate change is a pillar on which the organization has set three focus areas where Zain can address its negative impacts on the environment and create positive ones: Network and Energy Consumption, Strategy and Communication, and Waste Management and the Circular Economy.

Zain is keen on supporting any efforts that serve sustainability and environmental goals, as it believes this is a crucial topic that affects everyone. The company's social message seeks to tackle the most important issues and reinforce the role of individual efforts like preserving natural resources, decreasing consumption, recycling, and other concepts that will contribute to reducing the impacts of climate change.

Zain's part does not stop at raising awareness and supporting environmental programs, but also extends to reducing its own footprint. The company continues to exert more efforts into reducing the environmental footprint of its operations, including preserving natural resources, reducing energy consumption, recycling waste, implementing green solutions for water and electricity management, monitoring the company's overall effects on climate change, and more.