As an organisation that is committed to sustainable and eco-friendly business practices, Orange Botswana has initiated various programmes to champion environmental stewardship for a greener future.
As part of their going-green mission, the telecommunications company will launch solar power systems to the Orange Data Centre and some of its other sites. In addition, they have established a Climate Change Department which is responsible for ensuring sustainability in its business operations.
“We are one of the largest consumers of electricity and it is important that we establish strong initiatives to ensure that we start using green energy instead of fossil fuels,” said Orange Botswana Chief Technical Officer and Chief Climate Officer Gobe Mbayi during the organisation’s World Environment Day Commemorations.
In an interview with The Business Weekly & Review, Mbayi said that the organisation is committed to abating climate change and has started tracking its carbon footprint and taking measures to reduce carbon emissions.
“There are so many negative effects of climate change that we are seeing across the world. We are seeing floods, fires, rising sea levels, and it’s having a huge impact on the environment. It is upon us to take an initiative to show that we are against the trend, as all countries have been, and by planting trees we are taking a step towards ensuring that we reverse the effects of climate change,” he said.
In commemoration of World Environment Day, which is celebrated annually on June 5, Orange Botswana embarked on a litter picking and tree planting campaign as part of their sustainability agenda which is anchored on contributing towards a greener, healthier environment.
This year’s theme is focused on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. Land restoration being a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, which is critical to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Armed with litter pickers, large black bags and shovels, 100 Orange Botswana employees took to the streets of Maruapula picking up litter, onto Segoditshane Highway where they planted 100 trees.
To further increase their green footprint, Orange Botswana is also engaging with different companies and entities to explore more collaborations and opportunities to create sustainable business models, mitigate environmental risks and build a low-carbon economy.
