OHL reinforces its commitment to climate change

The OHL Group, aware of the importance of the fight against climate change, established its Commitment to the Fight against Climate Change in 2007, focused on the development of a business strategy that will enable the Group to create value with the least possible impact on the atmosphere in its operations.

The OHL Group’s Environment and Energy Master Plan 2011-2015 addresses the development of this specific commitment in the section on the Low Carbon Economy and establishes, among its benchmark projects, the verification of the Emission Inventory, according to the international standard ISO 14064-3 (Greenhouse Gases) and the Emissions Reduction Plan 2011-2015, which sets as its priority target the global reduction of its GHG emissions by 5% with respect to the base year established as 2010.

Alliance with CDP

Over the last few years OHL has participated in outstanding initiatives undertaken by CDP, an international nonprofit organization that provide the largest and most complete global system of environmental information dissemination, backed by 767 world-class financial institutions, accounting for the management of assets worth 92 billion dollars. As a result, the Group has been reporting voluntarily in CDP’s Climate Change program since 2009, in its Supply Chain program since 2011 and in the Water program since 2012.

In this context and for the purpose of supporting dissemination and awareness-raising initiatives on the low carbon economy, OHL has entered into a number of strategic alliances. Outstanding examples include the three-year collaboration agreement with CDP in order to provide a space for the communication and dissemination of environmental activities. Additional to this initiative are the commitments acquired as a member of the Foro Pro Clima, an initiative promoted by the City Council of Madrid, in which OHL has been participating since 2007, centered on the fight against air pollution through the exchange of experiences and the dissemination of innovative actions.

In addition, the OHL Group furthers sustainable building through its compliance with international standards such as the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certificates. In this regard, it should be noted that Torre Espacio, OHL’s corporate headquarters, has obtained BREEAM certification with the rating of excellent.

Likewise, the Group collaborates with the Encord platform (European Network of Construction Companies for Research and Development), which recently prepared guidelines under the title of the Encord Waste Measurement Guideline and, in November of this year, it will be present at the National Environment Congress, CONAMA, an initiative in which the Group has been participating since 1992.

Support to socioeconomic development

OHL, which reports its Organization Carbon Footprint in accordance with the principal international standards, GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, Encord Protocol or CDSB Guidelines, is determined to continue to progress in its environmental achievements.

During the past financial year, the OHL Group developed its Greenhouse Gas Compensation Program in developing countries, where it is possible to address the dual objective of fighting against climate change and against poverty.

With the support of these projects, OHL intends not only to mitigate climate change but also to drive socioeconomic development and the improvement of the living conditions of the local communities where these projects are being carried out, in addition to generating additional environmental benefits such as the protection of biodiversity or of water resources.

Specifically, the Amazon Conservation Project in Madre de Dios, Peru, seeks to significantly reduce the deforestation of the rainforest. This project is focused particularly on increasing the surveillance of the rainforest and providing benefits to the local communities.  This initiative has been doubly validated by two of the most highly reputed standards in the voluntary carbon market: Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS).

Also, the Scolel Te project: reforestation in Chiapas, Mexico, makes it possible to combat climate change and reduce deforestation through the implementation of agroforestry systems and the recovery and management of indigenous forest areas. Through these actions the project generates positive impacts from the social, economic and environmental perspectives, such as protection of the soil, biodiversity and the sources of water.

The Amazon Conservation Project in Madre de Dios, Peru.