2.2. ActNow – Elia group’s sustainability programme

GRI 102-29, 103-2, 103-3

Sustainability lies at the core of the group’s business strategy. The group’s ActNow programme, which was published in 2021, sets out our long-term sustainability goals. These are aligned with the UN SDGs, demonstrating that the group’s business objectives are explicitly linked to global goals. They are implemented through our business plans and operations. The group reviewed its business units and processes in relation to the SDGs and is improving its sustainability performance accordingly, developing indicators and a roadmap that help us to track our progress. Specific targets that are regularly reviewed and managed have been set.

ActNow is organised around five dimensions: Climate Action; Environment and Circular Economy; Health and Safety; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Governance, Ethics and Compliance.

The electricity sector has a major role to play in the decarbonisation of society and tackling of climate change. Electricity as an energy carrier is already the most cost-efficient solution in most sectors. Accordingly, further electrification based on the integration of renewable energy into the system is the most efficient way to realise the energy transition. The Elia group is positioned at the very centre of the energy system and is thus well-placed to identify the best methods for decarbonising the system. In addition to developing the necessary grid infrastructure which will support the integration and transportation of additional volumes of renewable energy across the grid, the Elia group is identifying necessary sources of flexibility which will allow the grid to cope with the variability of renewable energy and is preparing the market and system to operate in a 100% renewable energy context.

With ActNow, the joint study Decarbonising the energy system – The role of Transmission System Operators published with 7 other TSOs10, and 50Hertz’s strategic initiative From 60 to 100 by 2032 - new energy for a strong economy, we are making an ambitious contribution to fulfilling European, national and regional renewable energy and climate targets - as well as decarbonising society - both internally and externally.

10 We worked with 7 other TSOs (Terna, RTE, TenneT, Amprion, Red Eléctrica, Swissgrid and

APG) to identify the main tools for decarbonising the energy system. These were outlined in a joint paper that was published in July 2021: Decarbonising the energy system – The role of Transmission System Operators. Our regular ESG ratings from ESG rating agencies like Vigeo Eiris and Sustainalytics are also providing us with important input to improve our sustainability performance. Further information to Elia Transmission Belgium SA/NV can be found here and for 50Hertz Transmission GmbH can be found here.

The Elia group supports the European Green Deal through its core business. The demand-driven grid development we undertake and our innovation programmes enable us to integrate ever-increasing amounts of renewable energy into the system, whilst the building and operation of interconnectors enables cross-border European electricity trading to be undertaken. We cover the high investments required for this - where this makes economic sense - through green bonds that we place in the European and international financial markets. We are therefore committed to fully aligning ourselves with the EU Taxonomy to make this market more transparent.

FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD

FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD 5 Dimensions

1 Climate Action

• Enabling decarbonisation of the power sector • Carbon neutrality in system operations by 2040 • Carbon neutrality in our own activities by 2030 • Transition to a carbon-neutral value chain for new assets and construction works Section 3. – Energy – Market & integration of renewables Section 8. – Environmental aspects

2 Environment & Circular Economy

• Preserve and strengthen ecosystems and biodiversity • Embed circularity in our core business processes • Ensure compliance with environment performance standards Section 8. – Environmental Aspects

3 Health & Safety

• Going for zero accidents • Build our safety culture • We are all safety leaders • We strive for heath and wellbeing of our staff Section 5. – Safety Section 4. – Human Resources

4 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Inclusive leadership across the organisation and engaging all staff • Inclusive recruitment and selection practices in hiring processes • Equal opportunities for all staff • Open and inclusive company culture and healthy work-life balance • Recognition of societal DEI role Section 4. – Human Resources

5 Governance, Ethics & Compliance

• Governance: Accountable rules & processes • Ethics: Sustainable mindset & behaviours • Compliance: Conformity with external & internal rules • Transparency: Openness & meaningful stakeholder dialogue Section 1.3. – Guiding principles Section 7.3. – Public Acceptance and Stakeholder dialogues

For further details about the key performance indicators and targets which form part of our ActNow programme, please see the section entitled ‘Performance’ in our 2021 Integrated Report.

Section

Environment

Social

Gover - nance