APED points to the decarbonization of distribution in Portugal by 2040 – Comércio
The Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) wants to decarbonize the sector in Portugal by 2040. This Thursday, the Roadmap for the Decarbonization of the Distribution Sector is presented to the public at the Belém Cultural Center, an unprecedented and proactive initiative of the association which constitutes the sector’s action plan to achieve the decarbonization of its activities by this deadline.
“Mobilizing members, regardless of their size and area of activity”, around collective action that leads to the decarbonization of activities in the sector is the central objective of the roadmap, the APE said in a statement.
Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, director general of APED, explains to Negócios how the document emerged as a natural step, for the sector that has already invested in rationalization measures. “All along, the associates are implementing measures aimed at energy efficiency, the rational use of our customers and partners, taking advantage of the last customers, together, and partners. We understand that we were close. to take a new step that would consolidate the our approach to sustainability as a strategic axis”, he emphasizes.
According to this official, since the end of 2021, the association has been working together with PwC, in the document now presented. This stands out from other initiatives in the field of sustainability, emphasizes APED, as it is, on the one hand, “an action plan, built on the basis of the best international practices, which started with a diagnosis of the sector and the associates to arrive at a implementation model, based on axes of action, commitments and evaluation measures.
Secondly, it is an initiative or work area, even if it “mobilizes” APED activity, regardless of its size, work area. “There is a clear call for companies to integrate environmental commitments into their business strategy that all, together, contribute to reducing the sector’s carbon footprint”, he emphasizes.
The roadmap also intends to signal an active stance by the sector “we play a central role in the value chain and we assume the responsibility of setting an example in the domain of sustainability. positive effect that we can boost the collective”, he adds.
What will happen
Adherence to the company’s execution set according to the Decarbonization of an execution set according to the size of the company’s execution. Of the 39 commitments in the Roadmap covered by the Charter of Principles, how should a package of guarantees be assumed. For SMEs there are 10 appointments scheduled. For companies, 7 commitments are considered, totaling 17 additional ones. Volunteer employees are a set of selected companies, aligned with the company’s opportunities and tasks. Commitments must be made in the short term (until 2025), medium term (until 2030) and term (until 2040).
Joining the Roadmap is completely free. According to APED, the many opportunities for decarbonization will continue to be costly investments, “many will be those that will generate a series of savings and opportunities for internal operations and value and efficiency and efficiency in operations”.
The company recalls that, as an ESG association, it is still an unavoidable theme for the present and future of companies, with concrete definitions in its operation, in the definitive relationship with its audiences, whether customers, suppliers or even entities. In fact, these policies “are an opportunity for business as they contribute to improving productivity, the level of employee satisfaction, identification and external identification capacity, regulatory risk risk and innovation management”.