Environment and climate The world is facing significant climate challenges. Science has shown that we need to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 °C to protect life on Earth. If we fail, it is likely to have lasting consequences for the environment and people. To keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 °C, we need to halve global CO2 emissions by 2030 and reduce them to zero by 2050. This is explained in the IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C report. Sustainable energy is our key focus area. It is at the heart of Verdo and therefore a natural part of our activities. We create solutions with a focus on energy efficiency and lower utility prices, CO2 and NOx reductions as well as ensuring a clean and abundant water supply. SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation In Denmark, we all have access to clean drinking water – a resource most people take for granted. However, like in the rest of the world, our drinking water is under threat from pollution. Verdo is therefore continuously stepping up its efforts to protect our groundwater and ensure clean drinking water for consumers in the local community. In 2020, 48 water samples were taken at waterworks and at consumers connected to the supply network under the statutory analysis
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Annual report 2020
programme. All water samples complied with the water quality requirements. In addition to the samples required by law, we take water samples every two weeks for own testing using BactiQuant analysis, which provides a comprehensive quantification of total bacterial presence in one water sample. SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy SDG 7 is about ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. Our approach is to increase the use of certified biomass in the form of wood chips and keep coal consumption to an absolute minimum. This way, we gradually reduce our CO2 and NOx emissions from year to year. Every year, we replace an increasing number of street lights with LED technology to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions caused by lighting. In addition, we are working intensively to offer customers relevant infrastructure that promotes the green transformation. SDG 13 Climate action SDG 13 is about taking urgent action to combat climate change by, among other things, reducing the impact of greenhouse gases. That is why Verdo
has a long-standing commitment to using surplus heat from the industry. In Randers, we are working with the retailer Bilka, the crematorium and the regional hospital to recover their waste heat from production instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. The 2018 energy agreement states that, in the future, the use of surplus heat from businesses must be improved for the benefit of citizens and for the environment. Better use of surplus heat reduces consumer heating costs and fuel consumption in heat production. In 2020, Verdo’s initiatives in this area corresponded to the annual heat consumption of some 89 households. In 2021, we will explore further opportunities for utilising surplus heat in Randers and Herning. The growing wood consumption – both in the energy sector and in the construction sector – increases the need for sustainable forestry. This creates a natural focus on certification and documentation, where international certification programmes have an important role to play. The certifications reflect our joint commitment to responsible forestry. Therefore, Verdo enters into partnerships with our suppliers and industry associations to push the market and the forest industry in a more responsible direction.
