WATERLOO, ON, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry
Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today announced it has expanded its
commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). As part of its commitment BlackBerry is
investing in initiatives that enable access to clean water for the
global communities the company serves.
Billions of people around the world lack access to clean water,
sanitation and handwashing facilities today, with communities of
color, lower-income people, tribal communities and developing
countries most impacted. Safe water sanitation is a vital
enabler of access to education, in particular for girls, and a
strategy for economic growth and reducing poverty. The
COVID-19 pandemic has put a further spotlight on the criticality of
access to clean water, with handwashing being one of the key means
to adequately prevent and contain disease.
BlackBerry today announced it will:
- Be carbon neutral by 2021. Climate change, primarily driven by
carbon emissions, is limiting the availability and quality of water
and is expected to have significant further impact. Since 2013
BlackBerry has reduced its carbon emissions by 88%.
- Invest in wastewater treatment technology in Canada that eliminates the environmental
impacts of discharging raw wastewater into watercourses and the sea
and consumes less energy than traditional systems.
- Invest in the rehabilitation and maintenance of water wells in
Rwanda, where the population is
currently fetching water from sources that expose them to bacteria.
The economic benefits of improved water supply in the area will
enable Rwanda's Smart Cities
Blueprint, a framework aimed to accelerate the adoption of
ICT-driven initiatives in cities across Africa.
- Eliminate the use of single-use plastics globally by 2021,
ahead of the Government of Canada's plan. The initiative will help tackle
microplastics pollution, as well as ease the burden on oceans and
streams where plastic waste ends up and harms marine life.
"BlackBerry's purpose and responsibility to our stakeholders
include taking meaningful action to ensure our business practices
and our platform enable a more sustainable and equitable world,"
said Neelam Sandhu, Vice President
of Business Operations and Strategic Accounts, Office of the CEO at
BlackBerry. "We are pleased to expand our commitment to the UNGC
SDGs, by investing in initiatives that enable access to clean water
and the opportunities and benefits that are tied to that, for
Canadian citizens and the global community we are all a part
of."
"Now more than ever, it is vital that Canadian industries
develop innovative solutions to the challenges we face. On behalf
of the Government of Canada, I
would like to congratulate BlackBerry on their plan to become
carbon neutral by 2021," said The Honourable Navdeep Bains,
Minister of Innovation Science and Industry. "When Canadian
companies invest in clean technology projects, like BlackBerry is
doing in the water sector, it not only helps to protect the
environment and grow our economy, it also improves access to some
of our most basic needs. Clean technology and renewable
energy projects are key to helping Canada achieve our goal of net-zero emissions
by 2050."
"The Sustainable Development Goals provide businesses with
guidance to translate the world's needs and ambitions into business
solutions. It is not possible to have a strong, functioning
business in a world of increasing inequality, poverty, and climate
change," said Ayman Chowdhury, Head
of Secretariat at United Nations Global Compact Network Canada.
"In this Decade of Action for the SDGs, the spotlight
will be on companies who champion sustainability and are mobilizing
their resources to be a force for good. BlackBerry's SDGs
Action Plan clearly demonstrates their forward-thinking leadership
for sustainable growth."
To learn more about BlackBerry's commitment to the UNGC SDGs
visit www.BlackBerry.com/SDGs.
About BlackBerry
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB)
provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises
and governments around the world. The company secures more
than 500M endpoints including
150M cars on the road today.
Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the
company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative
solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy
solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security
management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's
vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.
BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.
For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow
@BlackBerry.
Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and
EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are
expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any
third-party products or services.
Media Contact:
BlackBerry Media Relations
+1
(519) 597-7273
mediarelations@BlackBerry.com
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SOURCE BlackBerry Limited