Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, 193 countries committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals constitute an action plan for a sustainable world free of poverty. By encouraging new ways of collaboration and collective action, this ‘Agenda 2030’ will promote change in a step-by-step process. Collective action by businesses, civil society organisations and governments is crucial to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030.

Alliander and the Sustainable Development Goals

In the SDG Charter each participant has committed to make a contribution in its own field, either individually or in partnership, to achieve the SDGs. Alliander plays an essential role in securing a safe and constant supply of energy. In addition, we are working on a more sustainable energy network and devising solutions for the market. Through these ongoing collaborative and innovative efforts, we aim to create social value (see Our impact) and reduce negative effects. In this way, we are determined to be part of the solution.

Where Alliander can make the biggest contribution

For our own organisation and environment, we have analysed how Alliander can best contribute towards the achievement of the SDGs. Where is our greatest impact and where can the greatest gains be realised? To this end, we carried out a comprehensive review of our operations, core activities and entire value creation process in the light of the SDGs. The aim was to ascertain which goals best matched our own initiatives, objectives, strategy and stakeholder expectations. We identified a number of ‘high-impact’ SDGs that Alliander will focus on in the coming years. These are:

SDG	Explanation	Relevance for Alliander		How can Alliander make a contribution?
	ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL	We aim to secure a reliable, affordable and accessible energy system that everyone can use on equal conditions	•	Offer open sustainable networks
			•	Make grid losses greener by investing in renewable generation
			•	Offer insight into energy usage with smart meter and options for meter applications
			•	Participation in international initiatives aimed at knowledge sharing and technology development and application
	MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE	We support our customers in the built environment with the transition to a sustainable energy system	•	Improve air quality by facilitating clean electrical transport
			•	Sustainable area development, ambitious housing by means of transition buildings
			•	Green Alliances
	ENSURE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS	Alliander is working on socially responsible operations (also in the value chain) and supports sustainable area development	•	Sustainable procurement
			•	Climate-neutral in 2023
			•	Reducing energy intensity and increasing energy-efficient operations
			•	Circular network operator
			•	Cooperation and participation in green networks
			•	Clean corporate mobility

Ambitions for the coming years

Mindful of the ultimate objective in 2030, we are going to establish what we can contribute in a step-by-step process. Our main focus this year will be to understand the SDGs, set priorities and raise internal awareness of these goals. Once we have a clear idea of the contributions we can make, it will be possible to define, integrate and implement specific objectives within our operations. One key challenge in this context is to link the SDGs to Alliander's long-term objectives. We will report on our progress in this area in the coming years.