MAPFRE- Middlesea Chairman Martin Galea highlighted the effects of climate change on Malta during a tree-planting event by the company at Majjistral Park.
Employees from MAPFRE Middlesea and MAPFRE MSV Life planted 1,000 trees at the site, as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme and its efforts to contribute towards sustainability.
“Climate change poses an existential threat to humanity and the world. In Malta, we have seen much evidence of this in the storms we have witnessed in winter and the recurring heatwaves in summer. Around us in Europe forests burn and summer flooding is now common. Biodiversity is under attack and habitats are destroyed due to human intervention. We all need to play our part if we want our children to live in a better world,” Mr Galea said.
MAPFRE Middlesea CEO Javier Moreno said the group is committed to environmental sustainability.
“Work is underway for MAPFRE Group to become a carbon-neutral company on a global level by 2030. This initiative forms part of the Group’s Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
Etienne Sciberras, CEO of MAPFRE MSV Life, explained that the company is always looking for ways to contribute to the environment.
“We’ve done away with disposable plastic materials altogether and has shifted to a more digitalized approach to the company’s operations with the scope of significantly lowering the amount of paper waste being produced. The company has also opted for more environment-friendly and sustainable organizational infrastructures and equipment to be as efficient as possible, energy-wise,” he said.
He takes over from Alejandro Gosttuski, who will now take on the role of an Advisor.
The company, set to launch soon, will seek to provide clients with ‘customer-centric and innovative’ financial services.
The Malta Stock Exchange recently joined other exchanges for the inaugural Ring the Bell for Climate initiative.
Family businesses account for more than 70% of Malta’s SMEs, and are hence vital components of the local economy.