On 30 Jan 2023, French public utility company SUEZ unveiled its new sustainable development goals for 2027, through 24 commitments revolving around three pillars, climate, biodiversity and social responsibility, for the first time under its new corporate strategy presented in September 2022. In terms of climate commitments, the group is developing a global approach across three levers.
The first is contributing to decarbonising energy by reaching electrical self-sufficiency in Europe in 2023 and throughout the duration of the plan. Between now and 2030, it aims to raise the proportion of renewable energy as a share of SUEZ’s total electricity consumption to 70% worldwide and 100% in Europe, compared to the current average of 24% by harnessing its own power generation capacities and new renewable energy supply contracts such as solar and wind power.
Next is the reduction of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and those of its value chain, contributing to the communities’ low-carbon transition. It aims to reduce the emissions from its water activities by almost 40% by 2030 and from its waste activities by more than 25% by 2030, excluding energy from waste. By improving the operational and energy efficiency of its operational process, SUEZ will invest an extra €40m in its R&D programme dedicated to carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Finally, the company is adapting top-priority and vulnerable sites operated to the effects of climate change, undertaking to cover 100% of its high-priority and vulnerable sites between now and 2027 through an established and funded action plan.
On the social front, it aims to contribute to a responsible economy through employment and local development within communities, and encourage the development and engagement of its people through employee share ownership. Alongside the climate and social responsibility pillars, SUEZ is stepping up its initiatives in the field of biodiversity, with 10 specific commitments.
A solid governance framework has been created through 43 performance indicators dedicated to monitoring the implementation of these commitments. All the indicators will be shared once a year to publicly communicate on the progress made by the group with respect to these commitments.
Sabrina Soussan, chairman and CEO of SUEZ, said: “With this new roadmap, we are reaffirming the central role of sustainable development in the SUEZ strategy. SUEZ is today setting out its pledges with a fresh new ambition around climate change policy and social responsibility, also including ambitious goals in terms of preservation of biodiversity and natural resources.”
