Following recent criticism on them being involved with deforestation renewable energy company Drax has announced an enhanced approach to deliver on its global sustainability targets and to enhance the way it manages its impact on the climate, nature and people.
Drax has announced an enhanced approach to deliver on its global sustainability targets and to enhance the way it manages its impact on the climate, nature and people.
As part of this approach, a new sustainability framework has been developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the scientific community, academics, employees, investors and eNGOs (environmental non-government organisations).
The plan includes 26 specific, measurable and time-bound targets which will govern the business’ approach, helping to further improve how it interacts with key issues such as emissions reduction, forestry, biodiversity, water efficiency and supporting local communities.
Central to this is Drax’s ambition to reach net zero across its value chain by the end of 2040, including steps aimed at decarbonising its supply chains to prioritise the low carbon delivery of biomass fibre to Drax Power Station and moving forward with renewable power sources for its pellet plants.
Key initiatives included in the new sustainability framework include:
- Community giving focused on providing STEM education and green skills training for people in under-served communities in the regions where Drax operates.
- Automating digital data gathering to improve sourcing governance and traceability in the company’s supply chain
- Implement nature positive action plans for Drax’s sites and develop plans for Drax’s priority biomass sourcing areas to help nature thrive by the end of 2030.
- Continue to develop and evaluate options to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere via Drax and Elimini’s carbon removals projects.
- Deliver biodiversity enhancements across all Drax sites and take action to support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in Drax’s value chain by the end of 2030.
- Working to represent the communities Drax operates in and prioritising health and safety for all Drax colleagues.
Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Drax Group Chief Sustainability Officer, said:
“Our new sustainability framework signals a significant change in the way Drax manages its impact on the environment, communities and nature. Throughout the process we have listened to and learned much from the wide variety of stakeholders who have helped us develop this plan, which will be key to helping to ensure Drax can provide renewable biomass power generation as sustainably and responsibly as possible for years to come.”
“This launch is not the end of the process, however, it is just the start. In the coming months and years, the climate crisis will become more acute. The need for action will become greater, and the role of carbon removals will become even more important. That means we will have to work even harder to aim to ensure our operations help reduce humanity’s impact on the planet.”
