Contribution to Global Goals (SDGs)
Alliander’s activities contribute to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the member states of the United Nations in 2015. These seventeen Sustainable Development Goals aim to put an end to poverty, inequality, injustice and climate change by 2030. The Netherlands has also committed to achieving these goals. Government, politicians and companies are currently working out their contribution in more concrete detail. Statistics Netherlands reports annually on the progress made on the global goals in the Netherlands.
Alliander and global goals: focus on impact
In 2020, we reviewed our contribution to the SDGs. We have added two SDGs to the four goals that we previously identified, i.e. SDG 7, 8, 11 and 12. They are SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and SDG 13 (climate action). Both goals are logically associated with our core activities. We investigate where our influence is greatest and where we can help achieve the most social value. To this end, we have compared the SDGs with our operations and core activities, and our entire value creation process to ascertain which SDGs best match both our own initiatives, objectives and strategy, and our stakeholders’ expectations. The six goals correspond to a number of material issues identified in this annual report, such as access to sustainable energy, good working conditions, making our infrastructures sustainable, innovation, responsible supply chain management and climate action.
Our contribution to SDGs: impact-driven strategy
The result of the SDG analysis is documented in our connectivity matrix. This matrix shows the relationships between our process of value creation, the material issues, performance and the SDGs. In the tables below, we also refer to other parts of the report for further explanations.
SDG 7: Affordable and sustainable energy | ||
Energy network operators play a vital role in ensuring safe, affordable and continuous availability of energy. This goal largely coincides with our mission and strategy. We see opportunities and challenges for the proper regulation of the heating and energy storage market, flex-markets, the technical and regulatory feasibility of smart connections, further system integration, and the prevention of network problems. Through our chain partners, we want to continue making a contribution to a sustainable energy supply system at low costs. | ||
Sub-goals | We contribute to achieving the following SDGs: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5. For us, goal 7.1 (ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services) and goal 7.2 (increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix) are especially important. We have therefore linked indicators to these two goals to monitor progress. | |
Impact | Our impact on SDG 7 is reflected by the investments we make to increase the share of renewable energy transmitted through our networks, while at the same time acting to keep the social cost of energy as low as possible in the future. | |
Our results in 2020 | - Outage duration: 23.2 minutes (2019: 21.9 minutes). | |
Long-term contribution | - Have the capacity each year to connect all the new locally generated energy in our areas. | |
Actions and policy | - Aim to keep costs as low as possible for the customer and share costs as fairly as possible. | |
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth | ||
We work non-stop on ensuring a safe and fair working environment for all our employees as well as an inclusive corporate culture. | ||
Sub-goals | We contribute to achieving SDG 8.8: protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments. In our procurement and tendering policy, we focus on good working conditions and compliance with international conventions. Contractors who work for us must meet the same safety standards as those we adhere to in-house. SDG 8.5: achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. | |
Impact | Our impact on SDG 8 is reflected in our positive contribution to the wellbeing of employees and to employment in the Netherlands. | |
Our results in 2020 | - Number of learning places for people who meet the criteria of the Dutch Labour Participation Act: 108. | |
Long-term contribution | - Offer long-term work to people with poor job prospects who meet the criteria of the Dutch Labour Participation Act. | |
Actions and policy | - Provide all our employees continuous training and development. | |
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure | ||
The Netherlands has one of the most reliable and efficient energy infrastructures in the world. Every day, we focus on making our networks suitable for the requirements of the energy transition. We facilitate customer choices, make maximum use of digital opportunities, actively create open networks and do our work efficiently. The speed of the energy transition creates new challenges that require us to continuously innovate and invest in our network. We support our customers in the built environment in switching to a sustainable energy system. | ||
Sub-goals | We contribute to achieving SDG 9.1: develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and trans-border infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. | |
Impact | Our impact on SDG 9 is reflected in our organisation building a future-proof energy infrastructure and applying innovative techniques and technologies, including hydrogen projects. | |
Our results in 2020 | - Developing the plans for new offices for our activities in Amsterdam. We are working on an ambitious project to facilitate assimilation at a physically difficult location. | |
Long-term contribution | - Invest in local and regional energy networks that support shifts in supply and demand patterns. | |
Actions and policy | - In a changing energy landscape, work on a future-proof, open network with space for multiple energy providers. | |
SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities | ||
In the Netherlands, municipalities play an important role in the transition to a sustainable energy supply. The agreements in the Regional Energy Strategies (RES) and the development of the Dutch Climate Agreement in combination with social initiatives lead to concrete strategies and district plans. Our task is to assist municipalities in this process and to programme and implement changes as well as possible. By enabling energy feed-in and connecting a growing number of charge points for electric mobility, we are also contributing to the sustainability of our cities, towns and communities. | ||
Sub-goals | We support SDG 11.6, i.e. reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities. These activities have a direct correlation with our supply chain emissions, natural capital and well-being in districts and neighbourhoods. | |
Impact | Our impact on SDG 11 is reflected in us strengthening our economic added value, reducing climate change and resource utilisation, and contributing to collaboration in districts and neighbourhoods. | |
Our results in 2020 | - In order to be able to respond to the energy plans as efficiently and effectively as possible, the joint network operators have investigated which technical developments are possible. The results of those investigations have been documented in a fact sheet called ‘System efficiency for an affordable and feasible energy transition’. | |
Long-term contribution | - Provide sufficient capacity to facilitate feed-in. | |
Actions and policy | - Assist all municipalities in drawing up their Regional Energy Strategies. | |
SDG 12: Responsible production and consumption | ||
We are acutely aware of the impact of our operations on the planet, and strive to make our business operations climate-neutral and circular. | ||
Sub-goals | We contribute to achieving SDG 12.2: by 2030, achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. | |
Impact | Our impact on SDG 12 is reflected in us mitigating climate change and reducing resource depletion. | |
Our results in 2020 | - 44% of our procurement is based on circular principles. | |
Long-term contribution | Our goal is to have fully climate-neutral, circular operations. | |
Actions and policy | - Make use of existing assets for longer and replace assets using recycled materials where possible. | |
SDG 13: Climate action | ||
Climate change leads to our assets being subject to changing physical conditions, such as drought and flooding. Responding to and making changes to mitigate the consequences of climate change, adaptation, is receiving increasing social attention. | ||
Sub-goals | We contribute to achieving SDG 13.1: strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | |
Impact | Our impact on SDG 13 is reflected in bringing about and entrenching a future-proof, climate-adaptive energy network. | |
Our results in 2020 | - Carrying out a qualitative analysis of our position in the field of climate adaptation. | |
Long-term contribution | - Know and be open about climate-related developments of our assets. | |
Actions and policy | - We have mapped out the effects of climate change on our company in more detail using the guidelines of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). | |
Ambitions for the coming years
Serving society is at the heart of our mission and strategy. The energy transition forms a key part of this: we are working on the ‘sustainable tomorrow’. Our operations are in line with this sustainable course, and the global SDGs form a navigational tool. The further operational integration and implementation of SDGs is fundamental to our mission, as is rigorous monitoring, measurement and reporting to ensure adequate compliance. To keep our focus on achieving the SDG goals, we have linked these to our own goals in the connectivity matrix. Furthermore, we are working on the long-term goals explained under the relevant SDG theme.