ITC to enrich biodiversity across 1 million acres by 2030

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

ITC aims to enrich biodiversity across 1 million acres by 2030, with a commitment to further restore degraded village commons and pasturelands, the company said. ITC's biodiversity conservation program has restored 290,000 acres of land across 12 states.

Additionally, ITC's Integrated Watershed Development Program has made a significant impact, covering approximately 1.47 million acres of water-stressed areas and benefiting over 400,000 individuals.Sanjiv Puri, Chairman, ITC emphasised on the significant role businesses must play in shaping a greener and cleaner future for the world. ITC is 'water positive' for 21 years, 'carbon positive' for 18 years, and 'solid waste recycling positive' for 16 years.

The company has consistently maintained an 'AA' rating by MSCI-ESG for five consecutive years, solidifying its position as a sustainability exemplar on a global scale. Furthermore, ITC has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index and has received an 'A-' rating at the Leadership Level for Climate Change, Supply Chain, and Water Security by CDP.

Referring to 2023 as the year of 'polycrisis,' the World Economic Forum has highlighted critical areas such as climate change, food and energy shortages, and more, signifying that the world is at a pivotal moment. The recent IPCC Synthesis Report on Climate Change has warned that India is among the countries that face the highest risk from climate change related events like heat waves to cyclones and displacement.

One of ITC’s major efforts is the Climate Smart Agriculture programme that aims to de-risk farmers from unpredictable weather conditions. This program concentrates on promoting high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties, adopting