View from COP29: Harnessing technology, connectivity, and innovation to drive climate action and protect the planet

Jazz and Mobilink Bank Discuss Climate Resilience Initiatives at COP29

The world faces an urgent challenge: reducing greenhouse emissions by 42 percent by 2030 to prevent the global temperature from rising beyond 1.5°C. In November, leaders from all over the world gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss solutions to mitigate and slow down climate change. The 29th COP conference sought to advance sustainability globally, and our Pakistan operating companies, Jazz and Mobilink Microfinance Bank, were in attendance discussing their efforts to address the adverse effects of climate change.

Khowla Shoaib, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Mobilink Bank and Sangbu Kim, Vice President of Digital Transformation at the World Bank discussed the links between digital financial literacy and resilience in the face of climate-change related natural disasters earlier this year at COP29 in Baku.

Pakistan is amongst the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate risk. Despite contributing less than 1% to global carbon emissions, the country has suffered approximately US $30 billion in economic losses due to climate change. This was evidenced by the floods of 2022 that affected 33 million people in Pakistan and caused damages of USD 14.9 billion, according to the World Bank.

Representatives from Jazz, VEON’s digital operator in Pakistan, and its sister company, Mobilink Bank, had engaging conversations at COP29 on finding solutions for net zero emissions and building climate resilience through innovative digital services.

Khowla Shoaib, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Mobilink Bank, participated in a panel session at the World Bank Pavilion. She highlighted the proactive role that both Mobilink Bank and JazzCash, Pakistan’s largest fintech platform, are playing in fostering climate resilience in Pakistan.

Alongside representatives from the World Bank, Turkcell, and Fahad Attamimi, Special Adviser to the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Khowla elaborated on Mobilink Bank’s digital services and initiatives to build climate resilience.  Khowla emphasized Mobilink Bank’s partnerships with innovative Agri-tech providers. These digital services provide weather notifications to help boost crop yield and help farmers to be prepared for unpredictable conditions caused by climate change.

Mehwish Ramzan, Manager of ESG at Jazz, spoke on a panel entitled “A blueprint for green telcos – From mobile network pledges to net zero progress”. The panel, which was broadcasted live, was organised jointly by We Don't Have Time, the world's largest media platform covering climate change, and the GSMA. Mehwish discussed the solutions for a greener future for telecommunications alongside representatives from Singtel, GSMA and Ericsson, touching on topics such as emissions transparency, sustainability goals, and embedding eco-friendly solutions into customer offerings.

The discussion took place ahead of the inaugural COP Digitalisation Day, part of the Green Digital Action track. This highlighted the crucial role of digital technology in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, for a greener and more resilient future.

The presence of Jazz and Mobilink Bank at COP29 was not just vital for sharing sustainable practices but also crucial to explaining and highlighting the climate risks Pakistan faces and its efforts to combat them.

Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz and Chairman of Mobilink Microfinance Bank, said, “Our commitment to environmental stewardship is at the core of our strategy. We have a three-pronged approach that focuses on enhancing eco-efficiency within our organization, promoting digital solutions to help our customers address environmental challenges, and empowering communities through green financing initiatives that build resilience. At COP29, we demonstrated our dedication to climate resilience and sustainability, sharing our experience in creating impactful solutions that drive long-term environmental responsibility. We aim to foster a sustainable future by integrating digital innovation to build climate resilience and promote eco-friendly solutions for all.”

Innovative digital solutions and sustainable practices are crucial in addressing climate change, as demonstrated at COP29. By sharing their initiatives and collaborating with global leaders, Jazz and Mobilink Bank are contributing to Pakistan's climate resilience and setting examples for impactful action.

Disclaimer
This web story contains “forward-looking statements”, as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and include statements relating to, among other things, VEON’s investment, sustainability and business plans. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which VEON cannot predict with accuracy and some of which VEON might not even anticipate. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release. VEON does not undertake to publicly update, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws, any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after such dates or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.