At the heart of European Sustainable Development Week (20 to 26 September) and Climate Week (21 to 27 September), a Veolia initiative illustrates the Group's commitment to contributing to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A competition, organised to mark World Environment Day on 5 June, invited Veolia employees to share their best nature photos portraying the Group's solutions for protecting it. More than a thousand amateur and enthusiast photographers among the Group’s employees and Google Resourcers Act for Nature community members took part. An initiative supported by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Protecting nature: showing its beauty
Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Korea, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, United States of America, France, Japan, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, and more. In the many countries where the Group is present, Veolia's amateur photographers took part in this initiative. Ten winning photos as well as a ‘special mention’ photograph were selected by a panel of seven experts, including a member of La REcyclerie – a third place in Paris dedicated to the circular economy, a member of the United Nations Environment Programme, and Veolia employees from the Strategy, Sustainable Development, and Communication departments. These 11 photographs are being exhibited at the Recyclerie de Paris until early October as well as on the Group's premises in Paris, the Group’s social networks, and some will even be featured on the UN website.
Protecting nature: Veolia’s ten solutions portrayed
Veolia is taking action to accelerate ecological transformation, combat pollution, and have a maximum positive impact on the environment. The Group's businesses (water, waste, energy) are connected to natural environments (water, air, soil).
In this exhibition, the photographs portray Veolia's ten solutions for nature:
1 - Purifying water in natural environments by processing wastewater and protecting plants and wildlife.
2 - Reusing wastewater in order to protect resources and aquatic environments.
3 - Collecting and reusing plastics to combat land and water pollution and the climate imbalance.
4 - Processing hazardous waste to prevent the most complex pollutants from contaminating natural environments (air, water and soil).
5 - Harnessing low-carbon solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that fuel the climate imbalance and damage biodiversity.
6 - Developing the composting of organic waste to enrich soils ecologically.
7 - Restoring ecosystems to protect natural environments, adapt to the consequences of the climate imbalance and preserve the resources offered by nature.
8 - Developing the environmental management of our sites to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.
9 - Designing eco-districts to tackle environmental and social issues and contribute to communities’ well-being.
10 - Raising awareness among employees, subcontractors, and the general public of the importance of protecting biodiversity.
Purifying water in natural environments
Reusing wastewater
Collecting and recovering plastic
Treating hazardous waste
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions with low-carbon solutions
Developing composting organic waste
Restoring ecosystems
Developing the ecological management of sites
Designing eco-districts
Raising awareness about protecting biodiversity
The panel’s ‘special mention’ photo: Caring for our environment for future generations
Panel, from l. to r.:
Act4Nature, an initiative launched in 2018 by the Entreprises pour l'Environnement (EpE) association and various partners, includes around forty large French and international companies, from all sectors of the economy, and aims to promote respect and regard for biodiversity by companies.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the highest authority on environmental matters within the United Nations system.
European Sustainable Development Week 2020: In view of the COVID-19 related health situation, the European Sustainable Development Week will exceptionally take place over three weeks (from 18 September to 8 October 2020) with a highlight from 20 to 26 September. It raises awareness of the 2030 agenda throughout Europe and encourages stakeholders from all territories to organise actions in line with sustainable development goals.
Climate Week NYC 2020: the largest climate summit organised this year in the context of the post-COVID-19 health crisis reconstruction, Climate Week NYC 2020 explores the lessons to be learnt for a "zero-emissions future through fair transition". The events organised to mark the occasion around the world are classified under ten themes: Clean Energy Transition; Transport and Infrastructure; Industry and Built Environment; Finance, Investment and Jobs; Food and Land Use; Nature and Science; US and International Policy; Youth, Public Mobilisation and Justice; Sustainable Travel and Tourism; Climate Impacts and Adaptation.