Section ENVIRONMENT
TOPIC

INTERAMERICAN

Volunteer support for Forest Firefighting from Interamerican

The disasters caused by the fires, which affect the forest wealth of our country every summer, are enormous, complementing the damages that the climate crisis has in store with extreme natural phenomena in the natural and residential environment. The management of catastrophic risks is a subject of particular interest for INTERAMERICAN not only operationally, but also through the international commitments that the company has undertaken at an institutional level for sustainable development and social responsibility.

The company, as a member of the Global Compact since 2008 - through the GC Network Hellas since its establishment this year - and the Environment Program Financial Initiative of the UN, has adopted the Principles of the Universal Compact, as well as the global Goals for Sustainable Development (UN SDGs) as a whole, also responding in practice to the environmental Goals (13, 14 and 15). At the same time, it has been drafted with all the important Declarations and Initiatives during the last decade, from the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (2012) to the New Deal for Europe last year and the Statement of Business Leaders this year, for the contribution of the global business community to the green economy and to deal with climate change.

In the whole society.

During the summer months of 2020 and October 2020

The company has organized a series of initiatives to support the voluntary Forest Firefighting.

The support to the Association of Volunteer Aphids of Forest Protection (SEAD, www.sead-afidnai.gr) completed 2 years this year as INTERAMERICAN donated helmets, on the occasion of the start of the fire season in our country.The team added 15 helmets this year from the company's offering. Consistent in its commitments in Greece and internationally, as a member of the UN Environment Program Finance Initiative since 2006 and the Principles of Sustainable Insurance since 2012, as well as the Global Compact since 2008 and the newly established Global Compact Network Hellas, INTERAMERICAN undertakes similar practical initiatives and controls its footprint on the environment and the prevention of climate change. The helmets were offered to the volunteers on June 12, during the visit of the company's Corporate Affairs & Responsibility Department executives to the Association's business center in Afidnes, Attica.

In memory of the victims of the fire in Eastern Attica and with the completion, on July 23, of two years since the tragic event, INTERAMERICAN added to the Voluntary Forest Protection and Forest Firefighting groups supported by the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Neos Voutza (PYSETH). The Corps was operationally integrated into the Civil Protection service during the attempt to deal with the fire in the summer of 2018 in Mati, Neo Voutza, Rafina and Provalinthos. It started its activity in 2007 and is recognized by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection and certified by the Fire Service. INTERAMERICAN granted PY.S.ETH. Neo Voutza - which only accepts donations in kind and does not manage money - electronic equipment for the operational needs of the team, with a visit of its executives to the Station.

Outside the PY.S.ETH. Neo Voutza and the Aphidna Forest Protection Volunteer Association, the company also supported the Rescue Volunteer Forest Firefighters Group (northern suburbs), with a monetary donation for the acquisition of a firefighting vehicle, which are also active in the wider area of Attica. The company also reinforced the Paravola volunteer fire station in Agrinio with safety equipment.

The company in collaboration with "we4all" organized a tree planting intervention for the greenery in the area of Neo Voutza, in October, with residents of the area - members of the local Landscape and Sports Association "I Proodos", as well as with members of the Volunteer Fire Department of Provalinthos . With the sponsoring initiative of the company, a large group of volunteers was thus formed for substantial action to rehabilitate a significant area in the beautiful settlement, which had been swept away by the devastating fire of July 2018. The group planted 200 saplings and the volunteer firefighters with two tankers took care of the first watering. We4all, which also had the organizational responsibility, in collaboration with the local volunteer organizations will take care so that the saplings live and grow. With strict adherence to sanitary measures, all those who participated got the satisfaction of contributing to an effort for "more green in our lives!".

The only cooperation with another organization was in tree planting in the area of N Voutza with "we4all". "We4all" is a global campaign to reverse the destruction caused to the environment by fires and illegal logging.

Worker participation existed only in tree planting

"We put more green in our life"

With this message of common will, on Sunday October 11, 2020 at 11 a.m. employees of the Company gathered in Neos Voutzas for a meaningful action of love for the natural environment. In cooperation with the organization WE4ALL, which also takes responsibility for good maintenance, and with the local club, we planted 200 saplings.

Various regions of Attica.