Moscow – PhosAgro Group, one of the world’s leading producers of phosphate-based fertilizers, supports the United Nations’ open call for business leaders for accelerated action on water.
The initiative, involving more than 50 leading global companies, was presented at the end of March at the UN Water Conference. The open call was prepared under the auspices of the UN Global Compact Water Resilience Coalition in conjunction with the CEO Water Mandate. PhosAgro is the only Russian company taking part in the initiative, which is aimed at achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 6 (ensure access to water and sanitation for all).
In responding to the open call, companies commit to taking steps to improve the sustainability of water resources as part of their operations and through their supply chains. The strategy is aimed at providing safe water resources to 3 billion people.
PhosAgro joined the CEO Water Mandate and the UN Global Compact’s Water Resilience Coalition in 2021. The Company is also a member of the Climate Ambition Accelerator. In December 2022, during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27), PhosAgro signed on to the Business Declaration for Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), prepared by the Water Resilience Coalition. PhosAgro has been awarded UN Global Compact LEAD status for its commitment to the principles of responsible business. Currently, only 37 of the world’s leading companies have this status.
“The open call of business to accelerate water action is another important step towards achieving the UN SDGs and consolidating efforts on the part of the private sector to find solutions to problems relating to the quality and availability of water. For PhosAgro, responding to the open call affirms our determination to operate in line with sustainability principles, using the planet’s resources responsibly and conserving them for future generations. To this end, we not only take part in UN initiatives but also collaborate with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on sustainable agricultural practices and soil restoration,” said Mikhail Rybnikov, PhosAgro’s CEO.
Issues of resource conservation, including the prudent handling of water resources, as well as energy efficiency, reducing the Company’s environmental impact and combating climate change are an integral part of PhosAgro’s long-term development strategy.
In 2020, PhosAgro’s Board of Directors approved water and climate strategies that set targets for minimising the Company’s environmental impact. In line with its water strategy, PhosAgro’s production sites are reducing their intake and consumption of fresh water. Several of the Company’s fertilizer production sites have incorporated a zero-discharge water management system that avoids contaminating natural bodies of water. PhosAgro constantly monitors the condition of bodies of water in the regions where it operates.