Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1403840
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 AUGUST 2021 COMMERCIAL 12 days high on emotion at the APS Summer Festival THE second edition of the APS Summer Festival concluded on a high note with the Comedy Knights Laugh off performance. The Festival, held in strict ac- cordance with the requirements set by the Health Authorities, created a landmark in Malta's cultural calendar and a unique space for artists and the public to enjoy and celebrate summer. The Festival brought together a fantastic array of well-known local and internationally signed artists and performances in- cluding: Etnika, Lost Voices, Ira Lo- sco, Moveo Dance Company, Galea String Quartet, Swing Nuages, Pasión Tango, Brik- kuni, Djun, Brodu, and Alexan- dra Alden. There was also the opportu- nity for emerging young talent to perform on stage including a show by the School of Per- forming Arts of the Universi- ty of Malta and the theatrical performance '249', created by Gabriel Lia, based around the life of Prof. Oliver Friggieri as a tribute to his academic life on Campus. Hervé Delpech, APS Bank Chief Strategy Officer, com- mented that, "The APS Sum- mer Festival proves that against the odds with the vision and drive of the Artistic Director Annalisa Schembri, we were able to bring the communities back together, to celebrate Cul- ture and Arts at a time in the year, so close to the heart and lifestyle of Maltese people. " The APS Summer Festival was brought to you by APS Bank plc, supported by the Univer- sity of Malta, Atlas Insurance PCC Limited and Kinnie. MAPFRE implements initiatives to fight against climate change MAPFRE continues in its ef- forts to fight against climate change by reducing company emissions and contributing to- wards the Paris Agreement ob- jective of limiting the average global temperature increase to below 2 degrees. Decarboni- sation refers to anything that helps eliminate the use of fossil fuels that contain carbon, such as coal, oil and natural gas, and that release energy, pollutants and greenhouse gases when combusted. One of the most abundant greenhouse gas- es produced by human activi- ty is carbon dioxide (CO2). It causes warming of the atmos- phere near the earth's surface and has highly negative conse- quences for the climate. Decar- bonisation is no longer a mat- ter of choice; it is imperative for many companies that aim to become carbon neutral, such as MAPFRE. It is a challenge that requires companies to be aware of what their carbon footprint is currently and to identify short-, medium- and long-term strategies to reduce that footprint and offset what- ever they cannot eliminate. MAPFRE is implementing a number of strategies in order to achieve carbon neutrality. One of the company's com- mitments is to become carbon neutral in Spain and Portugal before the end of 2021, and for all other countries where MAPFRE operates by 2030. In addition, MAPFRE is work- ing towards incorporating the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Fi- nancial Disclosures (TCFD), which will enable the compa- ny to report to its investors on how risks related to climate change are being managed. Furthermore, partnerships between MAPFRE and other large companies are being de- veloped by signing agreements to develop infrastructures that will aid in the promotion of de- carbonisation in those respec- tive markets. Forming part of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment criteria, MAPFRE does not in- vest in companies that derive 30% or more of their revenue from coal-produced energy. In- stead, MAPFRE is strengthen- ing its commitment to sustain- able investment in Spain with the launch of its first renewa- bles fund known as MAPFRE Energías Renovables. In fact, as part of MAPFRE's ESG under- writing criteria, the company no longer insures the building of new infrastructures related to coal mines or thermal pow- er plants, as well as risks linked to tar sands, oil, or gas in the Arctic. Moreover, MAPFRE has in- troduced new insurance prod- ucts for electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as other prod- ucts from Iberdrola which are 100% renewable. In order to further reinforce this initia- tive, MAPFRE Middlesea in- troduced a new EV insurance policy. The introduction of this EV policy forms part of MAPFRE's sustainability ini- tiatives to promote a greener environment and fight against climate change. Energy sav- ings is also going to play a key role in MAPFRE's initiative to fight climate change. MAPFRE is currently promoting the re- duction of energy, water and paper consumption within the company's many offices and is encouraging the practice of working remotely amongst its employees. MAPFRE's activ- ities contribute towards sev- eral Sustainable Development Goals such as promoting good health and well-being, the use of affordable and clean Energy, climate action, and cultivating new partnerships and relation- ships in order to achieve these goals.