SDF marks World Environment Day, commits to achieve carbon neutral status | Daily News

SDF marks World Environment Day, commits to achieve carbon neutral status

Sarvodaya Development Finance (SDF), one of Sri Lanka’s leaders in development financing, has announced an initiative to reduce the Company’s carbon footprint, with a target of achieving carbon neutral status by 2030.

SDF made this announcement as the Company marked World Environment Day, held on June 5.

Sustainability and environmental responsibility have always been at the core of SDF’s operations, as the Company was established by Sri Lanka’s oldest continuing social movement, the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, with the purpose of supporting underserved rural economies and grassroots entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

SDF CEO Nilantha Jayanetti said, “We are guided by our sustainability framework, and vision for sustainable finance by 2030. As we go forward, it is incumbent upon all individuals and businesses in Sri Lanka and around the world, to take responsibility for their impact on the environment and communities. Thus, as we mark World Environment Day 2022, we take this opportunity to renew our resolve to do our part for the planet and our people.”

One of the most significant environment-focused initiatives undertaken by SDF during the past year is atree-planting project in partnership with the University of Colombo, the Ministry of the Environment, University of Colombo Graduates Association, and Swarnawahini. Accordingly, SDF has committed to the sponsorship of the planting of 50,000 Mee trees, and the project was inaugurated with a planting event in Hambanthota. 1,000 such trees were also planted in Ampara, while an event was also held at the Sarvodaya Bandaragama Centre, cosponsored by SDF. Each of these tree-planting events is preceded by brief seminars to create awareness about the need for environmental responsibility.

After the Maths seminars held for O/L students in partnership with the University of Colombo, every participant is provided with a Mee tree for them to plant. Seminars have already been held at DS Senanayake National College in Ampara and Uhan Maha Vidyalaya in Ampara, with an event also recently taking place at the Kebethigollawa Central College.

SDF is also backing an environmentally sustainable economic recovery, by promoting green and sustainable business models. The SDF sustainable financing drive emphasizes environmentally friendly business ventures, such as solar panels, and agricultural businesses that are essential for economic recovery. SDF has spearheaded this sustainable recovery drive by adopting solar energy at offices and will introduce such concepts to its customer base as well.


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