COP27 Summit: Aster DM Healthcare signs Action Declaration on Climate Policy Engagement

New Delhi: Aster DM Healthcare, one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in India and GCC joined hands with 50 of the world’s largest corporations to sign the Action Declaration on Climate Policy Engagement at the on-going COP27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

These 50 global companies who have come forward to sign the Corporate Knights Action Declaration on climate policy support the climate action needed in accordance with the Paris Agreement and will work closely with policymakers to build a climate-sensitive organization.

The Paris Accords is one of the most important climate change policy document adopted in 2015 by 194 members of members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The goal of the agreement is to keep the rise in mean global temperature well below 2 degree Celsius and preferably keep the rise limited to 1.5 degrees.

The Action Declaration aims to close the say–do gap on countries’ emissions reductions by:

• Supporting climate action aligned with the Paris Agreement when engaging with policymakers

• Working with their major industry/trade associations to advance alignment with the Paris Agreement

• Monitoring and disclosing climate policy alignment for their companies and their major industry/trade associations

Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare said, “Aster is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with other large corporates with heart and soul on sustainability to be part of the Action Declaration.  We are also actively involved with the policymakers to focus on Climate change which is an existential threat to the world. In an effort towards building a sustainable future, we commit our efforts to attain the UN SDGs. With the highest level of ESG rating that we achieved among the worlds large corporations through best practices in healthcare sustainability is a long-term strategic imperative for us. Apart from the organization level, we are involved very deeply in community connect through the Aster Volunteers program in India, GCC and African countries. To monitor and facilitate our ESG commitments, we are setting up a task force to bring any issues to the topmost level for immediate action.”

Aster being an environment-conscious organization has integrated 11 UNSDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) into its ESG policies, which includes Climate Action. As an example, two of its hospitals in Karnataka state in India, have consumed major sources of electrical energy from alternate and renewable sources, and many hospitals are managing efficient water consumption, sewage process and bio-waste management. Aster CMI Hospital and Aster RV Hospital in Bangalore consumed 87% and 54% of alternate and renewable source of energy respectively in the last Financial Year period.

Through the use of Solar and Wind Energy, 5725 MWh and 1770 MWh have been the total renewable consumption avoiding 2,323 tCO2e and 715 tCO2e total Emissions respectively.  Some of its hospitals in India – Aster Medcity-Kochi, Aster Specialty Hospital–Wayanadu, Aster CMI Hospital-Bangalore etc., are using recycled water for Bio-Diversity efforts and green matters with large number of flora maintained in their campuses. Some of the key highlights of Sustainability efforts by Aster in FY21-22 are 1.4 MWp Solar PV Project initiated; 1,993 MWh Energy consumption reduction across Aster Hospitals GCC; 268,983 KL of water saved by recycling; 273,338 litres of treated sewage effluent used.

Aster Volunteers – the Global CSR Program of Aster DM Healthcare has been playing an important role in building a Sustainable Society by touching the lives of more than 4 million. These are made possible by engaging its 50,000+ Aster Volunteers for various community programs. Aster Volunteers Mobile Medical Services is currently managing 25 Mobile Medical Services across various geographies to extend free primary care services. Aster regularly conducts multi-specialty medical camps and health awareness activities, extending its Treatment Aid support to a large number of deserving patients and has extended Disaster Aid Support to various parts of the region across Asia & Africa. Recently, it handed over 255 Homes to the 2018 Kerala flood victims. More than 2 lakh individuals were provided support through camps, vaccinations etc during the recent covid pandemic.

Earlier this year, Aster was ranked 94^th among Global 100 sustainable companies by Corporate Knights after a rigorous assessment of over 6,000 companies with more than USD 1 billion revenue making it the only company from India and the Middle East to accomplish this remarkable feat and taking a place among global giants like Apple, Intel, Tesla, and Unilever. Aster was also awarded the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability 2021 becoming the only healthcare organization from Middle East to be awarded this year alongside global MNCs from other sectors.