Redeia has contributed nearly 7 million euros to setting up a total of 107 social and environmental initiatives during the first year of its ‘Comprehensive Impact Strategy’. Its aim is to multiply its positive impact on the areas in which it operates as a manager of essential infrastructures, both in Spain and in Latin America.

This was announced by the Chairwoman of Redeia, Beatriz Corredor, during the inauguration of its Sustainability Conference held in Madrid. At this conference, which is being held on Tuesday and Wednesday, more than 30 speakers will take part in eight sessions that aim to discuss how to take sustainability from theory into practice. 

“Sustainability is no longer an option; it's a strategic necessity. Any organisation that wishes to thrive in the 21st century cannot simply stick to ideas and commitments. In the current context of the climate crisis, as well as international conflict and geopolitical instability, there is an urgent need to move on from discussion to action” said Corredor during the opening session. 

Therefore, she stressed that “businesses are an important agent of change. We are not just talking about the obligatory application of measures to prevent, detect, and mitigate the adverse impact of our operations on human rights or the environment, but about having a positive impact, so that our contribution to society goes beyond our economic performance, taxes, and employment”.

Redeia's chairwoman said that in this context, the Comprehensive Impact Strategy is carrying out initiatives in Spain, Chile and Peru to deal with environmental challenges and inequalities between territories, generations, genders, and the digital divide.

They include outstanding projects such as the initiative to revive species like the Bearded Vulture in the Picos de Europa mountains, or the Golden Eagle in Navarra; to improve connectivity and energy efficiency in rural areas; projects to reduce depopulation and contribute to the demographic challenge like Holapueblo; projects to reduce the digital divide in rural areas with Eje Digital. Redeia has set up a total of 107 social and environmental initiatives during the first year of its ‘Comprehensive Impact Strategy’ at a cost of 7 million euros. Its aim is to multiply its positive impact on the areas in which it operates as a manager of essential infrastructures, both in Spain and in Latin America.

The Strategy also includes actions to reduce infant malnutrition and improve education in remote communities in Peru, and a long-term project aimed at restoring and preserving marine habitats with the “Marine Forest Platform”, which was set up after the successful restoration of 2 hectares of Posidonia in Mallorca - a project that won national and European awards - and is now being extended to the waters in the region of Valencia. 

The implementation of the Strategy in 2023 has triggered a change in Redeia’s internal governance, because all of its departments and subsidiaries are taking part. The Comprehensive Impact Committee is responsible for implementing the strategy, and it has convened four times to assess and approve the initiatives proposed by different areas of the company, whose teams are committed to this new comprehensive approach to applying the strategy. 
 

From thoughts and ideas to action

During the Conference, Corredor noted how the concept of sustainability has changed from the United Nations definition forty years ago to the current global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a “key axis” which puts human beings at the centre of a development agenda that aims to reduce all forms of inequality.
This is why she insisted that in light of the uncertainties in the international panorama, development must be sustainable and fair with regard to people, territories, and the environment.

Two days of ideas and action

The inauguration gave way to two days of round tables in which around thirty speakers analysed sustainability in decision making, how to have an impact that promotes action from a global and territorial perspective, and how to explore opportunities based on environmental, social, and good governance criteria. 

The conference kicks off on Tuesday with a debate on the risks and opportunities related to AI, with the participation of the Director General of RED.es, Jesús Herrero and the president and founder of the AIA Group, Regina Llopis, among others. This will be followed by a discussion about how a good strategy should be based on data. This will include experts like Deloitte’s Climate Change and Sustainability Lead Partner, Concepción Iglesias, and the president of ICAC, Santiago Durán.

There will then be round tables on the importance of due diligence and good governance for achieving robust sustainability. Redeia can count on the participation of Javier Martín, Policy Officer of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Trade; and Ana Palacio, president of the Sustainability and Appointments Committee of Enagás.

The focus of Wednesday’s discussion will be on how to have an impact. How to have a positive impact on natural capital will be addressed by the Councillor for Sustainable Development of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha, Mercedes Gómez Rodríguez, among others.

This will be followed by another round table with speakers such as the Director General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, María Jesús Rodriguez Sancho and the Executive President of the Ecomar Foundation, Theresa Zabell. The focus will then shift to Latin America with Juan Majada, Redeia’s Manager of International Business, who will speak alongside the Secretary-General of the Ibero-American General Secretariat, Andrés Allamand and Peru’s former Minister for the Environment, Albina Ruíz.

Finally, an interesting round table will discuss how to make architecture sustainable, with the participation of speakers like the president of the Higher Council of Architects’ Associations in Spain, Marta Vall-Llosera Ferrán and the co-head of the Architecture and Technology Unit of the Norman Foster Foundation, Diego López.

This is the fourth consecutive conference and signals Redeia’s renewed commitment to its long-standing Sustainability 2030 plan, which has been boosted by its Comprehensive Impact Strategy so that it addresses every project in all its business areas with a comprehensive approach that generates a multiplier effect on society.