South African coal operators Exxaro Resources, the South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the EKIM Wildlife Centre of Excellence signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that strengthens a shared commitment to combat climate change and promote sustainable development. This collaboration marks a significant step in leveraging research, innovation, and strategic initiatives to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
At the heart of the collaboration is a mutual dedication to environmental, social, and governance principles. The MoU outlines the organizations’ joint efforts to align their company initiatives with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that the initiatives identified contribute meaningfully to global sustainability targets.
Exxaro is dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with interim targets set for 2030. The organization’s low-carbon future strategy emphasizes the importance of climate resilience, particularly for vulnerable communities. Guided by its purpose to ‘Power Better Lives in Africa and Beyond,’ the organization said it understands that it cannot grow sustainably without deliberately creating a positive impact in the environment and communities served by the organization.
The collaboration is aligned with Exxaro’s land management strategy, which relates to business resilience, environmental stewardship, the protection of assets from illegal land use as well as the cultivation of human capital by promoting economic growth through community-based agricultural enterprises.
Key initiatives under this partnership include:
Collection and propagation of indigenous grasses and legume species for post-mining rehabilitation.
Baseline studies for local economic development aligned with social and labour plans, encompassing bush encroachment management through fodder creation, biochar, and charcoal for sustainable land use.
Carbon monitoring in rangelands with implications for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Commercialization of the game industry to optimize Exxaro’s resources.
Commercialization of the beef and goat industries as socio-economic stimuli.
“It is our duty to ensure that we are responsible stewards of the natural resources that our operations and communities rely on to ensure a sustainable future for our employees, communities and the planet,” said Mongezi Veti, chief sustainable impact officer at Exxaro. “Our socio-economic development programs will enhance community resilience by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and improving food security, among others. We are excited about the potential of this partnership and look forward to working with both ARC and EKIM Wildlife Centre of Excellence to achieve our shared vision of a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future.”
This collaboration represents a pivotal link between science, business, and sustainable development. Conversely, the ARC/EKIM Wildlife Centre of Excellence is dedicated to spearheading research-driven solutions to address the complex challenges and obstacles confronting Exxaro and the broader mining industry regarding sustainable development.
