WHY ESG?
Over the past few years, people around the globe have been making more sustainable choices in their lives, changing simple things like recycling household waste, living more sustainably to minimize waste, and going for greener ways to travel wherever possible. Naturally, this has started to influence decisions around finances, for instance, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing.
The future of our planet and people have become a priority among economies, governments, and communities. Social inequality, unethical company operations, carbon emission, deforestation, and climate change are just a few issues across the globe. More and more firms have started to realize the negative impact they have on the earth and are trying their level best to minimize it or turn it into a positive one.
Companies and investors are looking for ideas that are not just effective for their business but also good for the environment and people. This is where ESG investing comes into the picture. ESG investing means paying attention to several aspects, rather than strictly commercial considerations, when assessing an investment opportunity. These ESG factors include how a company operates, how it impacts the environment, and how it treats its stakeholders and people. Ascent believes the following are top reasons why ESG investing is important:
ASCENT’S ESG STRATEGY
Ascent is a Calgary-based Energy and Pipeline EPCM that recognizes the critical importance of an ESG strategy. Ascent’s objective is to become an extension to each client’s needs by incorporating the appropriate ESG plans and policies that complement and support. Ascent will evaluate every potential for these opportunities in recommending options to meet its clients’ primary engineering, procurement, and construction solutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL, Conservation of the Natural World
Environmental priorities today are a top concern for stakeholders at every level within the EPCM process. Today’s accelerated demand for change requires ongoing focus on progress and performance. Net zero, sustainable development, and carbon capture have all become critically important factors in meeting collective environmental objectives. At Ascent, we work with our clients to meet and maintain environmental objectives. In conjunction with our clients, we also facilitate environmental sustainability through focus on initiatives for carbon reduction, waste mitigation, operations performance, safer materials, and more.
SOCIAL, People and Relationships
At Ascent, we view managing relationships with workforce, stakeholders, and the communities in which we operate as the most important aspects of social sustainability. We work to foster the type of growth and connectivity at all levels that results in positive social change. In conjunction with our clients, we monitor the practices of suppliers and sub-contractors to ensure that their contribution to these efforts is in line with collective objectives. Through health and safety, charitable investments and direct engagement, we are helping to ensure positive social impact is part of everything we do.
GOVERNANCE, Standards for running a company
Effective governance balances the best interests of employees, management, and other stakeholders. Our guiding principles on governance are leadership, ethics, integrity, stewardship, accountability, transparency, effectiveness, responsibility, and participation. With regular reviews and revisions to ensure governance remains in line with evolving best practices and stakeholder expectations, Ascent is equipped for ongoing success even through rapidly changing markets and regulations.
