Vodacom Group joins COP27 as principal partner for communications

Read More

The Vodacom Group is partnering with the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference hosted in Sharm El-Sheikh by the Egyptian government. The Vodafone Group is the principal partner for communications during the conference.

Vodacom recognises that climate change poses risks to businesses, government and communities alike. Through our purpose to connect for a better future and our firm belief that business success should not come at the cost of the environment, we are collectively committed to reducing our environmental impact and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 50% by 2025 and have a roadmap in place to reduce waste and water across our operations.

This year’s COP27 agenda includes a day dedicated to agriculture and food systems — a change from last year’s conference in Glasgow, where food systems’ advocates raised concerns over the lack of attention given to the subject. 

Vodacom Group chief executive Shameel Joosub said: “As part of our commitment and participation in COP27, we will engage with government, business and civil society to tackle the scourge of the negative impacts exacerbated by climate change across the African continent, especially food insecurity.”

Joosub added: “As a technology company, our digital solutions and capabilities play a critical role in helping society to mitigate and adapt against climate change impacts. The Internet of Things (IoT), for instance, is key in saving energy, creating cleaner and more efficient communities and enabling sectors such as agriculture to be more efficient and sustainable and we look forward to engaging on this at COP27 so we can accelerate the fight against climate change.” 

Of interest for countries like South Africa that have high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality, a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes how climate change and poverty are deeply intertwined because climate change disproportionately affects poor people in low-income communities. The report also mentions that flood damage (as recently experienced in Kwa-Zulu Natal) as well as drought-related acute food insecurity and malnutrition have increased on the African continent. 

That said, case studies across Africa demonstrate the positive impact that access to even the most basic mobile technology can offer smallholder farmers. This underscores the importance of driving inclusive access to digital technology, especially mobile-based, to help the continent’s farmers mitigate the impact of climate change. This assertion is championed by Vodacom, Vodafone, Safaricom and the UN Capital Development Fund in their co-authored report, Towards a Connected Climate. The paper unpacks how leveraging digital technologies can help break the cycle of food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. 

For further information on Vodacom’s environmental activities and performance, please click here.