Unlocking A Priceless, Sustainable Future
Beatrice Cornacchia, SVP of Marketing and Communications at Mastercard MEA, explains how the company is walking the talk on global sustainability.
Ever since climate change appeared on our radar, environmentalists and policymakers have been urgently seeking ways to address the impact of this seemingly insurmountable challenge. Governments have enacted national strategies, the private sector has incorporated sustainability into their operations, consumers have started to adjust their behaviors – and still, there is so much more to do.
When it comes to fighting climate change, there is only one way to make a tangible impact: by joining forces.
Putting sustainability on the world stage
When Expo 2020 Dubai announced sustainability as one of its core themes, it shone a global spotlight on this vital topic and gave us all a chance to look anew at how we can enact change to be a force for good.
When Mastercard joined the mega event as Official Payment Technology Partner, it was because so much of Expo 2020 Dubai’s ethos aligned with our vision for the future. We are committed to embedding sustainability in everything we do, and we believe in the power of partnerships to drive collective environmental action.
Fighting climate change together Extreme weather events are a reminder that we must invest in innovative ways to to address the climate crisis. Climate change affects us all, but the people most acutely affected are those living in the most marginalized communities.
The fight against climate change is an essential part of inclusive growth and, therefore, a key component of Mastercard’s efforts to do well by doing good. We know the quest for sustainability is a vision we share with many others, and Expo 2020 Dubai is a fantastic example where priority action is planned, executed, and scaled for reach and impact.
Many businesses want to take positive action for the environment, but are paralyzed by the enormity of the challenge, or the fear of getting it wrong. Yet, the biggest risk comes from doing nothing at all. In order to make a difference, the public and private sectors need to invest in partnerships to meet these goals, and inspire stakeholders to be part of the solution.
Joining a global partnership Mastercard has a longstanding track record of applying technology and insights to create commercially sustainable social impact with our partners. Every day, we focus on building an inclusive, sustainable digital economy where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Building on this experience, we established the Priceless Planet Coalition last year—a platform that enables us to fight climate change with the help of our partners and consumers. The coalition unites cities, banks, merchants, and consumers as part of a global movement to restore 100 million trees by 2025.
In this campaign, we are honored to count Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as Emirates NBD, HSBC, and Network International, among our 70 global partners—all of which have committed to running initiatives to encourage climate action.
Showcasing a Priceless future at Expo 2020 Dubai As the biggest event ever to be staged in the region, Expo 2020 Dubai is a fantastic platform to galvanize action for the environment. As Official Payments Technology Partner, we are giving visitors who buy tickets online the opportunity to donate to the coalition while planning their trip to the event.
Mastercard also has a separate, interactive installation where Expo visitors can learn more about Mastercard’s efforts to combat climate change. More importantly, the installation will offer visitors an opportunity to join the movement and contribute towards a greener future.
Walking the talk
Mastercard is actively implementing best practices to reduce our own carbon footprint, and we are working closely with our suppliers on their decarbonization efforts as an important step to reaching our goal of Net Zero emissions by 2050.
We have launched a sustainable card program with certified suppliers that can produce more eco-friendly cards, and we recently launched the Mastercard Carbon Calculator, which helps consumers to understand the environmental impact of their spending choices. In September 2021, we also launched our Global Sustainability Innovation Lab in Sweden, which aims to spearhead the further development of our portfolio of environmentally conscious digital products and solutions.
We are not doing this in isolation. Consumers are demonstrating passion for the environment at a heightened level, and it is up to us as brands to support them in making greener decisions.
A greener tomorrow
As Expo 2020 Dubai welcomes and encourages people from all over the world to be part of the solution for a greener tomorrow, I expect we’ll see even more thoughtful consideration in consumer spending and local business support. More companies tapping into the potential of a green economy. More governments investing in the technology that can shape a sustainable future.
More people ready to Start Something Priceless—making their contribution to a future where everyone can reach their potential, on a planet that thrives.
“Every day, we are focused on building an inclusive, sustainable digital economy where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
After much anticipation, Expo 2020 Dubai is finally upon us and Mastercard has a central role to play as the global event kicks off. As the Official Payment Technology Partner, Mastercard will be powering the mega-event’s payments and ticketing platform, while offering visitors a unique opportunity to join the fight against climate change.
When purchasing tickets, visitors to the Expo 2020 website will have the option to donate to Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition as they check out. Supported by partners including Expo 2020 itself, along with Emirates NBD and Network International, the coalition aims to restore 100 million trees globally by 2025, and bring businesses, governments, and consumers together in meaningful climate action.
Within the U.A.E., donations made to the Priceless Planet Coalition will be allocated to restoring mangrove trees across the country’s natural ecosystems. Effective mangrove restoration can support the long-term resilience of coastal ecosystems that, in turn, provide numerous benefits to people. Such benefits include the recovery of declining fish stocks, improving water quality, conserving cultural identity, and offering opportunities for eco-tourism.
In addition to shining a spotlight on the environment and sustainability, Mastercard will continue to bring forth some of the best and brightest innovations around the globe as the world’s biggest cultural gathering opens its doors. In the runup to Expo 2020, the company will also be unveiling its consumer-facing experiential exhibit, with endless opportunities and cutting-edge solutions.
Throughout the event, as a global technology company in the payments industry, Mastercard will be offering visitors security and peace of mind when it comes to transacting online. Powered by Mastercard Payment Gateway Services, Expo 2020’s ticketing platform enables users to accept a wide range of digital payments easily and securely from all over the world, while offering innovative solutions for processing and fraud prevention. Using the latest proprietary artificial intelligence technology, Brighterion, Mastercard is ensuring fraud prevention for Expo 2020 Dubai’s website by offering seamless, secure, and personalized experiences that mark a new era of innovation.
Further easing the payment journey for Expo guests, Mastercard is embedding Click to Pay, the next generation of e-commerce technology, to make it easy and safe for U.A.E. consumers to check out instantly, without the need to store sensitive information with different merchants, or enter their card details across various Click to Pay-enabled sites.
With Expo 2020 Dubai well underway, Mastercard invites all visitors to discover a world without borders using the power of technology that creates a positive legacy for humanity and the planet we all share.