Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced newsprint wastage from 3.6% in 2019 to 2.99% in 2020.
• Reduced energy emissions by 14% from Kwh 1,063,678 in 2019 to Kwh 911,418 in 2020.

Social Achievements

• Safe Nation Campaign: Disseminated accurate information about the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching over 730 million on social media. Spent over Shs 100 million in media space and donated Shs 10 million to the Kenya Covid-19 Emergency Fund.
• Breast Cancer Awareness campaign: Drove awareness and facilitated testing for 415 people.

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Covid-19 pandemic hampered community activities and required a shift in focus to pandemic response.

Mitigation Strategies

• Launched the Safe Nation Campaign to address misinformation and provide accurate information about the pandemic.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Not disclosed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Various awards mentioned for journalists within the group

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental Sustainability
• Social Impact
• Governance
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced energy used by 14.6%, resulting in a 7.9% decrease in electricity bills at the Printing Plant since 2019.
• Decreased plastic use by over 90,000 disposable cups in 2021 through a partnership with Aquavita Limited.
• Implemented systems to monitor newsprint consumption and waste generation at the printing plant.
• Planted trees at the NMG plant and partnered with county governments to donate 20,000 seedlings for planting.

Social Achievements

• Contributed over Shs 10m worth of items (textbooks, food, water tanks, shoes, computers, etc.) to primary schools and children’s homes, impacting over 5,800 pupils.
• Ran the Newspapers in Education (NiE) program, providing newspapers to 183 schools (107,632 copies weekly).
• Organized farm clinics in Uganda focusing on climate-smart farming.
• Organized Covid-19 vaccination drives, achieving a 75% inoculation rate among employees.
• Hosted regional webinars on mental health awareness and enhanced medical insurance to cover mental wellbeing.
• Disseminated health information through various platforms (Healthy Nation, Healthy Diary, Fibroids Awareness Campaign).

Governance Achievements

• Joined the United Nations Global Compact.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Environmental degradation and climate change impacts.
• Limited resources in education institutions due to Covid-19 measures.

Mitigation Strategies

• Partnerships with other organizations to provide resources to schools.
• Initiatives to reduce environmental footprint (e.g., reduced energy consumption, decreased plastic use, tree planting).
• Climate Action series in Sunday Nation to raise public awareness.
• Participation in COP26 discussions.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Global Compact

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
• SDG 4 (Quality Education)
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
• SDG 13 (Climate Action)

NMG's initiatives contribute to these goals through health information dissemination, educational support, energy efficiency improvements, and climate change awareness campaigns.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Responsible Journalism
• Corporate Governance
• Employee Welfare
• Societal Impact
• Environmental Impact

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced carbon footprint through various initiatives including reduced business travel, installation of solar water heating systems, energy-efficient lighting, and sourcing raw materials from nearby countries.
• Phased out chemical plates and introduced a chemical-free plate-making system to reduce environmental impact of newspaper production.
• Achieved zero-waste-to-landfill target across operations by adopting a circular economy approach.

Social Achievements

• Launched the first Gender Desk in Africa to elevate women's voices in news coverage.
• Implemented Newspapers in Education (NiE) program in 1,597 schools, training teachers and promoting literacy.
• Donated textbooks worth Shs 1.4 million to needy schools.
• Achieved zero workplace fatalities or hospitalisation injuries resulting in no lost work time.

Governance Achievements

• Implemented a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, Whistle Blowing Policy, and Procurement Policies.
• Established the office of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) to ensure compliance with data protection legislation.
• Upholds Dispatch Standard Operating Procedure and Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Policy Guidelines to enhance transparency and accountability.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Shifting customer behavior, technology disruption, content innovation and quality, economic and market conditions, changing regulatory environment, and competitive landscape.
• Litigation risk from publication of potentially defamatory content.
• Cybersecurity risks from potential cyber-attacks.
• Macro-economic and geopolitical risks impacting business environment.
• Business continuity risks from various events such as natural disasters.
• Human capital risks due to digital disruption and changing talent requirements.

Mitigation Strategies

• Embracing innovation, investing in R&D, remaining agile, establishing strategic partnerships, and monitoring market trends.
• Robust gatekeeping measures, editorial policies and procedures, and regular training on editorial policy and litigation risk management.
• Investing in information security and cyber defense systems, deploying risk assessment techniques, and implementing cybersecurity awareness programs.
• Diversification of product offerings, expansion to other markets, maintaining cash reserves, optimizing working capital, and employing diverse financial strategies.
• Robust Business Continuity Plans and risk mitigating measures for staff health and safety, fire prevention, equipment maintenance, and security.
• Evaluating and enhancing employee value proposition, developing talent acquisition and retention strategies, and upskilling talent.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• ESG assessment framework for suppliers; focus on tax compliance, occupational health and safety, background checks, and ethical concerns; prompt payment within 30-45 days.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Global Compact

Certifications: Blue Company certified

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy)
• SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production)
• SDG 13 (Climate action)
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals)

Initiatives such as tree planting, renewable energy projects, waste reduction, and partnerships with various organizations contribute to these goals.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Responsible Journalism
• Environmental Impact
• Employee Welfare
• Societal Impact
• Corporate Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Efficient management of waste newsprint
• Installation of solar water heating
• Replacing high-consumption halogen lamps with LED lighting
• Sourcing raw materials from countries closer to our destinations
• Converting 4 vehicles in Tanzania to run on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
• Tree planting
• Utilizing solar tubes and skylights for daylight illumination
• Water consumption trend on a downward trajectory

Social Achievements

• Operationalized The Nation Media Foundation (NMF)
• Launched the Earthwise Summit
• Hosted the fifth edition of the Kusi Ideas Festival
• Revamped Nation.Africa, enhancing user experience and revenue diversification
• Website revamps and introduction of paywalls in Uganda and Tanzania
• Intensified ePaper awareness campaign
• Piloted a book-selling platform (Nation Virtual Bookstore)
• Launched Speaking of Gen Z podcast
• Donated 1,500 textbooks to schools
• Newspapers in Education (NiE) impacted 184,083 students
• Donated 3,000 sanitary towels
• Hosted the International Women’s Day (IWD) Gala Dinner
• Held a women-only event dubbed “Changing Cycles”
• Planted 1,500 trees at the Ngong Forest
• Planted 40,500 trees since 2019

Governance Achievements

• Established proper governance structures, controls, and guidance
• Updated Editorial Policy Guidelines and Objectives
• Approved an Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Policy (ERM)
• Implemented comprehensive Health and Safety and security initiatives
• Regular health and safety audits and risk assessments

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Global economic slowdown with rising commodity prices, high inflation, tightening of global financial conditions, and geopolitical tensions
• Significant increases in the cost of newsprint and other raw materials
• High cost of fuel
• Relentless increases in the cost of living
• Overall advertising revenues in Kenya decreased by 7%
• Attacks on press freedom in Kenya
• Criminalisation of media offences in Uganda
• Declining print circulation and consumption
• Highly fragmented media industry and ever-changing consumption patterns

Mitigation Strategies

• Accelerated the implementation of initiatives aligned to our 2022-2027 strategic plan
• Building a strong organisational culture
• Improving customer lifecycle
• Enhancing data and tech capabilities
• Diversifying revenue streams
• Experiment-driven development approach
• Revamping digital platforms
• Introducing premium, ad-free subscriptions
• Intensified ePaper awareness campaign
• Digital-first and audience-led content strategy
• Newsroom Integration Project
• Investing in human resource development
• Prioritizing digital-first content production
• Accelerating revenue growth through product monetization and diversified revenue streams
• Embracing technology, cost optimization

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Collaborating with suppliers to reduce carbon emissions
• Directing at least 90% of NMG’s expenditures towards companies actively managing, reporting, and reducing their emissions

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Ravaging drought cycles
• Flooding
• Soaring temperatures
• Surge in animal to humans’ infections

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3
• SDG 4
• SDG 7
• SDG 8
• SDG 10
• SDG 13
• SDG 16

Initiatives aligned with these goals are detailed throughout the report.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA)
• UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa Gender Journalism Awards
• Africa Centre for Media Excellence Awards
• Excellence in Journalism Awards (EJAT)
• Kwale Excellence Awards
• Isu Elihle Award
• Mandy Rossouw Accountability Award
• Top 30 under 30 International News Media Association (INMA)