Enagás’s commitment to the SDGs

4 December, 2019

According to several studies the main SDGs for Spanish companies are 13 (Action for the Planet), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). However, those related to the environment and society are priority for some energy companies, due to the type of activity they are involved in.

Enagás understands the role that companies play in such an opportunity as Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) opens and therefore has incorporated them into its strategy.

As a gas transmission company, Enagás contributes directly to SDGs 7 and 9, both linked to the access to sustainable energy and the development of resilient infrastructures. With its corporate culture, internal processes and way of doing business, the company also helps to achieve SDGs 5, 8, 13, 15 and 17:

• SDG 5: Gender equality
• SDG7: Affordable and clean energy
• SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
• SDG 13: Climate action
• SDG 15: Life on land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals

The goals of this SDG are to ensure gender equality and to give women equal rights and access to economic resources. Enagás promotes projects to identify and promote female talent that have increased the presence of women in the workforce, including in management positions. Currently, 31% of managerial and pre-executive positions are occupied by women. Furthermore, the company has already reached 30% women on its Board of Directors, a target set for 2020. All of this has contributed to Enagás being recognised as a leading company in gender equality by different entities, such as Equileap.

The objective of this SDG is to ensure access to affordable, safe, sustainable and modern energy for all. Enagás is working on the development of new energy solutions, such as renewable gases, in order to promote a decarbonised economy. The company also focuses on energy efficiency and reducing emissions, as well as the promotion of new uses of natural gas. For example, in the transport sector it promotes the use of LNG as a fuel, especially in the maritime and railway sectors.

This SDG aims to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all men and women by 2030. In this context, Enagás is certified as a Family Friendly Company and is also recognised as one of the best companies to work for, according to Top Employer. The company promotes stable, high-quality employment (virtually 100% of its employees are permanent) and is committed to work-life balance, with more than 110 measures in place. Some remarkable measures are remote working or the "Non-school days", which offer parents alternatives for childcare during days in which schools are on holiday. There is also a family support programme, with services for employees and their direct relatives, such as tele-support, tele-pharmacy or help with certain administrative procedures.

This SDG focuses on building resilient infrastructures, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation. To this end, Enagás seeks to improve the competitiveness of the countries in which it operates and to contribute to the energy transition and decarbonisation processes through the development and management of sustainable energy infrastructures. In this sense, Spain is in an advantageous position and already has a network of infrastructures ready to transport and store renewable gases. This will enable the energy transition to be carried out at the lowest possible cost without the need for significant additional investments. Furthermore, natural gas is of great importance for improving competitiveness, as it allows the introduction of efficient industrial technologies which improve the intensity of energy usage and industry competitiveness, generating direct and indirect employment.

This SDG is focused on the adoption of urgent measures to combat climate change and its effects. Energy efficiency is a key area for Enagás. Accordingly, the company works and establishes annual targets for reducing emissions and energy intensity in each of its facilities. The company has reduced its global emissions by around 50% since 2014. Among other measures, Enagás uses residual energy produced in its infrastructure processes to generate electricity. This enabled it to reduce CO2 emissions by 36% in the period 2016-2018 compared to 2013-2015, and to avoid the emission of 1,768 tCO2e into the atmosphere. The company has set itself the target of reducing emissions by 25.2% by 2030, compared to 2018.

This SDG seeks to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. This means managing forests sustainably, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation and halting the loss of biodiversity. The management of natural capital is a key aspect for Enagás. The company controls and minimises its impact on the environment, by improving its use of natural resources and developing measures aimed at protecting biodiversity.

This SDG seeks to strengthen partnerships between governments, private sector and civil society. In this area, Enagás engages in dialogue and creates bonds of collaboration with its different stakeholders, establishing partnerships for the creation of shared value and thus achieving the proposed objectives. The company has conducted 23 volunteer initiatives. In addition, it chaired the annual meeting of the Gas Expert Group at the UN's European headquarters, tasked with examining the crucial role of gas in achieving the SDGs.