In
times of pandemic, such as these we are now facing with Covid-19,
nature gives us some messages: we are a part of this big network and
we need to preserve it. The protection fo biodiversity is the focus
on this June 5, celebrating the Environment World Day. In line with
Iberdrola’s global initiative, Neoenergia adhered to the theme and strengthened the strategy of designing
projects that are sustainable since the onset, in the search of
raising awareness and mitigating the impacts on the wild life and
flora. The projects are detailed at the newsletter
published this Friday by Iberdrola,
Neoenergia’s parent company. In view of the global crisis, the
group emphasizes that the solution will be found in the green
recovery of the economy, prioritizing a sustainable model for the
energy sector and the fight against climate change.
The
entire environment concept is built by Neoenergia based on its
corporate policies, its purpose and values. Five corporate policies
are linked to sustainability, namely: Sustainability Management,
Environment, Biodiversity, Combating Climate Change and Sustainable
Development. The company’s formal purpose is to keep building, day
after day, on a collaborative basis, a healthier and more affordable
energy model; moreover, sustainable energy is one of its values. “As
sustainable energy, we mean all processes that permeate energy -
generation, transmission, distribution and trading. Neoenergia is
highly aware of its responsibility of contributing to the
preservation and protection of the environment. This understanding is
integrated into the development or our activities and the
relationship with our stakeholders”, says Francisco Carvalho,
Innovation and Sustainability Superintendent.
Among
the numerous company’s sustainability actions, we may highlight two
projects in partnership with LIFE Institute (Lasting Initiative for
Earth), by which we apply a metric developed by the Institute and
recommended by the U.N., to measure the impacts of our business on
the Biodiversity and guide our efforts towards actions aimed at the
preservation, research, recovery and restoration of the natural
capital. The project has the potential to be expanded to wind energy
and network projects. “Our purpose is not only mitigate problems,
we don’t want to create the problems, this is the big North we are
pursuing”, says Carvalho.
Neoenergia
adopts as a good practice the use of protected and isolated networks
in distribution lines located in the surroundings of vegetation,
avoiding accidents and reducing the need of pruning. In line with the
Group’s strategy, Neoenergia’s investments in the environment
amounted to R$ 946.6 million in 2019.
GREEN RECOVERY
The
company is committed with U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
prioritizing SDG 7, related to clean and affordable energy, and 13,
related to climate change. Today, 86.8% of the power generated by the
company stems from renewable sources, with a highlight for hydro and
wind sources. By 2020, this number will be over 90%, upon the
completion of two wind parks under development in the Northeast
region - Chafariz in Paraíba and Oitis, between Bahia and Piauí.
“Neoenergia and Iberdrola are fully confident in the green
recovery, which signals, stronger than ever, towards an energy
transition, pointing to the use of renewable energies and
de-carbonization and electrification of the economy", agues
Carvalho. The company’s goal is to be carbon-neutral by 2050.
In
addition to investments in clean energy generation, the company uses
efficient and sustainable technologies in its processes and develops
actions aimed at raising awareness of its stakeholders, including its
employees and customers. “Not only technologies and processes
induce a transformation in a company, but mainly the people”, says
Neoenergia’s Innovation and Sustainability Superintendent. One of
the highlights is the energy efficiency area. The company was awarded
in the Big Companies - Partnerships category of 2019 SDG Global
Compact Award, due to its educational actions. Around R$ 50.5 million
was invested in the project, regulated by the National Electric
Energy Agency (Aneel), involving over 220 thousand properties and
saving 58,104 MWh/year.
ABOUT THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Celebrated
since 1974, this date is aimed to encourage companies, governments
and people to promote a environmental-friendly change, this year
focused in biodiversity preservation.
