Ansvarlig forvaltning av infrastruktur for fornybar energi
Veiledningen for ansvarlig forvaltning av infrastruktur for fornybar energi danner utgangspunktet for dialogen vi har med våre investeringspartnere og forvaltere.
Den utfyller forventningsdokumentene våre, som beskriver hvordan vi forventer at styrene i de noterte selskapene vi investerer i håndterer bærekraftutfordringer i sin virksomhet.
Veiledningen gir uttrykk for hva vi anser som ansvarlige prinsipper for investeringer i og forvaltning av infrastruktur for fornybar energi. Den støtter samtidig opp under god kommersiell drift. Å følge anbefalingene i veiledningen mener vi vil bidra til økt etterspørsel etter våre eiendeler, lavere driftskostnader og mindre risiko knyttet til regulatoriske krav.
Veiledningen er på engelsk.
It is broadly accepted that companies have fundamental responsibilities to reduce environmental impacts, respect human rights and adhere to global standards for responsible business conduct. The socioenvironmental risks and opportunities associated with renewable energy infrastructure assets can be substantial across the asset life cycle, from construction through operations to disposal. Building materials require energy, water and a variety of natural resources and chemicals. How companies operate impacts their employees, contract workers, workers in supply chains, customers, communities and the surrounding environment. Robust health and safety standards can improve productivity and reduce risk on construction sites and operational assets.
Companies developing and operating renewable energy infrastructure should understand and manage such risks and opportunities. This includes procuring sustainable building materials, and implementing measures that mitigate the potential impact on local habitat and ecosystems. They should also address any human rights and social implications of their business, such as labour rights, tax transparency and anti-corruption measures, in development and operations, as well as in their supply chains and business relationships. By systematically avoiding or mitigating these environmental and social risks, companies can contribute to long-term value creation.
Guidance
Below we set out guidance to investment partners and asset managers outlining our approach to responsible management of unlisted renewable energy infrastructure. We believe that following this approach will contribute to lower operating costs, less risk and higher asset valuations over time.
We expect our investment partners and asset managers to apply this guidance, taking into account the best practices and relevant legal frameworks in the markets where we invest. Our approach and expectations will evolve over time.
Integrate sustainability and governance considerations into policies, strategies and plans
- Commit to internationally recognised principles such as the UN Global Compact, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
- Integrate environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities in the policies for the development, construction, acquisition, management and disposal of assets. Policies should cover material risks and opportunities across the life cycle of assets such as environmental impacts tax transparency, anti-corruption and the health, safety and wellbeing of employees, sub-contractors and rights of affected communities.
- Include environmental and social initiatives in the strategies, plans and budgets for assets. Development and maintenance plans should include assessments and targets that anticipate regulatory and technology trends.
- Due diligence processes for asset transactions should integrate environmental, social and governance issues. They should include an assessment of environmental issues, including physical climate risks and impact on local biodiversity and ecosystem services, rights of affected stakeholders, and compliance with environmental, health and safety standards. Best practices on tax transparency, anti-corruption and supply chain management should be followed.
Identify material sustainability and governance risks and take mitigating actions
- Assess which environmental, social, and governance risks are material to the future value of assets, the cost of operations, and the reputation of owners. Develop risk management systems and processes to monitor and measure risk exposure and identify cost-effective mitigating actions.
- Consider risks and opportunities related to the global transition to low-carbon energy use and expected changes to the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. Assets should be designed and upgraded to withstand anticipated physical risks related to climate change.
- Avoid and reduce negative impacts on nature by operating in line with the mitigation hierarchy. The goal should be to work towards no net loss of nature, using a scientifically robust way of measuring nature losses and gains with a baseline to track progress over time. We encourage our partners to look for new opportunities to monitor and mitigate impacts on nature using digital technologies such as artificial intelligence.
- Integrate health and safety into risk and compliance frameworks. This includes guidelines on how to protect the health, safety and well-being of employees and subcontractors, systems for monitoring and reporting incidents, and plans for taking corrective actions. Maintain relations with key stakeholders through engagement and dialogue and follow best practices in health, safety and supply-chain management.
Assets should be designed and upgraded to withstand anticipated physical risks related to climate change.
Monitor and report on material sustainability and governance information
- Disclose the environmental and social strategies, asset level performance and associated targets using internationally accepted reporting standards and metrics.
- Monitor and report on asset level environmental impacts, affected stakeholders and health and safety incidents during construction, maintenance and operations.