Uniper’s Bold Steps Towards Sustainability: New Reports, Targets, and Human Rights Commitment

(IN BRIEF) Uniper, a prominent energy company, has released its eighth Sustainability Report and its inaugural Climate Transition Plan, signifying a pivotal shift towards sustainability. The Climate Transition Plan outlines Uniper’s trajectory towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, ten years ahead of schedule, with a specific focus on attaining carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035. Emphasizing the importance of a just transition, Uniper commits to repurposing power-plant sites for a sustainable economy and supports affected stakeholders through dialogue and engagement. Furthermore, Uniper appoints its first Human Rights Officer, reinforcing its dedication to upholding human rights standards across its operations. These initiatives underscore Uniper’s proactive approach to environmental responsibility and ethical business practices in its journey towards a low-carbon future.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜSSELDORF, 30-Apr-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Uniper is publishing its eighth Sustainability Report and its first Climate Transition Plan today. The Sustainability Report presents information about Uniper’s most material sustainability issues, how they are managed and what was achieved in the reporting period. The Climate Transition Plan (CTP) sets out the direction for Uniper´s transformation towards its climate targets. Both reports are published as separate documents and can be downloaded from the company website.

First Climate Transition Plan sets out the direction for Uniper´s transformation towards their climate targets

In August 2023 Uniper unveiled their new strategy with the clear commitment to accelerate the transformation into a greener company by maintaining a secure supply of energy. Decarbonization and security of supply are two sides of the same coin. For this transformation approximately €8 bn will be invested by 2030. Uniper’s decarbonization targets have been significantly tightened and concretized: Carbon neutrality across the entire value chain will be achieved by 2040, ten years earlier than originally planned. For the scope 1 and 2 emissions specifically, carbon neutrality is planned already by 2035. To achieve this, it requires a robust Climate Transition Plan which aims to serve as a roadmap to embrace the transformation Uniper needs.

Key pillar of the Climate Transition Plan is the transformation of Uniper´s portfolio and has the full support of the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management. This includes phasing out its coal-based power generation, investing into renewables, converting a significant part of its 8.5 gigawatt (GW) gas-fired capacity to hydrogen, biofuels or CCS/CCU, and engaging into respective new-build opportunities for new hydrogen-ready power plants. Uniper will also gradually transform its commodity portfolio by increasing the share of greener gases over time, developing own hydrogen production, and expanding its commercial activity in the field of renewable PPA (Power Purchase Agreements).

Uniper committed to a just transition to a low-carbon future

A key aspect of Uniper’s decarbonization strategy is the repurposing of existing power-plant sites for a sustainable economy. Uniper engages in effective dialogue and stakeholder engagement to support employees and communities affected by the company’s transition. Uniper is convinced that the transition to a low-carbon future must be fair for as many stakeholders as possible. Therefore, Uniper engages in dialogue with stakeholders that are affected by it—like our employees at facilities scheduled for closure or repurposing as well as people in nearby communities.

Initiatives like the “Energy Transformation Hub Northwest” and the transformation of the Staudinger power plant exemplify Uniper´s commitment to this goal. By involving internal and external stakeholders from the outset, Uniper aims to not only make energy supply fit for the future but also contribute to economic development, preserve jobs, and create new employment opportunities. Uniper´s Just Transition Framework, aligned with principles from the International Labour Organization and COP26 agreement, focuses on transparency, workers’ resilience, environmental protection, and value creation. In 2023 Uniper has begun developing a just transition policy statement to ensure the transition adheres to these principles and commitments.

Additionally, Uniper is actively engaged in supporting economic diversification programs in coal-mining regions, such as its involvement in Bettercoal’s initiative in Colombia. This year Uniper will continue to explore opportunities to support a fair energy transition along its coal supply chains, reinforcing Uniper’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

Uniper’s Commitment to Human Rights: Appointing Its First Human Rights Officer

Uniper took a significant step towards upholding its commitment to respecting human rights across its business activities by appointing its first Human Rights Officer. This appointment aligns with Uniper’s dedication to adhere to international human rights standards. The role of Uniper’s Human Rights Officer is pivotal in ensuring the effective management of human rights and environmental risks within the company. Reporting directly to the Uniper Management Board, the Officer holds the responsibility for overseeing Uniper’s human rights strategy and ESG risk management. Collaboration with relevant business functions allows for the development of tailored engagement strategies for specific suppliers, reinforcing Uniper’s commitment to ethical business practices.

“In August 2023 Uniper unveiled their new strategy with the clear commitment to accelerate the transformation into a greener company by maintaining a stable supply of dispatchable power. We set ambitious decarbonization targets: We intend to be carbon-neutral by 2040, ten years earlier than previously planned. And we plan to achieve group-wide carbon neutrality for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035. This is a truly mammoth task. But we consider Uniper to be very well positioned for these changes. We’re playing a decisive role in transforming the energy system. Throughout 2023 we made significant strides in various aspects of sustainability. A number of new commitments and sustainability targets have been made. Decarbonization targets are tightened, ambition for woman to hold 30% of leadership positions by 2030 is set. In addition, we underscored the commitment to a just transition and a fair dialogue with NGOs”., Uniper Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Michael Lewis

About Uniper

Düsseldorf-based Uniper is an international energy company with activities in more than 40 countries. The company and its roughly 7,000 employees make an important contribution to supply security in Europe, particularly in its core markets of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Uniper’s operations encompass power generation in Europe, global energy trading, and a broad gas portfolio. Uniper procures gas—including liquefied natural gas (LNG)—and other energy sources on global markets. The company owns and operates gas storage facilities with a total capacity of more than 7 billion cubic meters.

Uniper intends to be completely carbon-neutral by 2040. Uniper aims for its installed power generating capacity to be more than 80% zero-carbon by 2030. To achieve this, the company is transforming its power plants and facilities and investing in flexible, dispatchable power generating units. Uniper is already one of Europe’s largest operators of hydropower plants and is helping further expand solar and wind power, which are essential for a more sustainable and secure future. The company is progressively expanding its gas portfolio to include green gases like hydrogen and biomethane and aims to convert to these gases over the long term.

Uniper is a reliable partner for communities, municipal utilities, and industrial enterprises for planning and implementing innovative, lower-carbon solutions on their decarbonization journey. Uniper is a hydrogen pioneer, is active worldwide along the entire hydrogen value chain, and is conducting projects to make hydrogen a mainstay of the energy supply.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Uniper SE management and other information currently available to Uniper. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. Uniper SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Media Contact:

Oliver Roeder
External Communication & Sustainability
M +49 151 12658465
oliver.roeder@uniper.energy

SOURCE: Uniper SE