Environment conservation principle

Ecosystems have been transformed by human activity, but in the last century the transformation has been more rapid and extensive than in any comparable period in the human history. As a result, the Earth's biodiversity has been considerably impoverished. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more than a million species are in danger of extinction and could disappear within a few decades because of the increasing impact of human activities. The extinction of species threatens not only nature, but also mankind itself.

Iberdrola is aware of this problem and in line with its commitment to sustainable development considers the conservation of biodiversity as a basic principle of our environmental policy. For this reason Iberdrola has a Biodiversity Policy, which applies to all business units and regions where the company operates. The policy establishes as basic action principles:

• Integrating the conservation of biodiversity into the decision-making processes at the implementation, operation and dismantling stages of infrastructure projects.
• Applying a preventive approach in the construction of new infrastructure, by considering its complete life cycle and integrating this focus into the impact assessment of new projects.
• Integrating this preventive approach in environmental and social impact assessment of new projects, particularly those involving sensitive, biologically diverse or protected natural areas.
• Compensating for the effects of the Group's activities and fostering the restoration of natural capital. To achieve this, Group companies carry out, depending on the specific needs of each project, during the construction, operation and dismantling stages, among other actions, monitoring of fauna and flora, particularly protected and vulnerable species as well as silvicultural treatments, and forest restoration with native species.
• Integrating biodiversity into the Group's environmental management systems and establishing targets, indicators, and criteria for its control, monitoring and audit.
• Protecting species and habitats by means of positive conservation management and site research, with the aim of obtaining a net positive outcome in relation to the environment, avoiding the siting of new infrastructure in protected areas or those of high biodiversity value.
• Informing stakeholders about the Group's activities in matters of biodiversity.
• Promoting knowledge of and training in biodiversity among Group employees and those of our subcontractors and suppliers.
• Participating in the development of research, conservation, education, and awareness raising projects, collaborating with Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders regarding biodiversity issues.