Agenda 2030 Goal 13: Combating climate change

There are several initiatives carried out by the Acea Group to contribute to the achievement of SDG 13 of the UN 2030 agenda, such as the choice to increase the production of electricity from renewable sources; the implementation of energy efficiency measures in all production processes and offices; the use of G.O. certified energy for internal use; the offer of certified green energy in the sale of energy and the purchase of carbon credits to offset the emissions of the gas sold; the development of services functional to the diffusion of sustainable mobility and other services aimed at the energy efficiency of buildings, the  efficient use of resources, in particular water, and all actions aimed at contributing to the protection of the natural environment and the reduction of emissions of the company and the social contexts in which it operates.

Infographic on SDG 13 of Agenda 2030 to fight climate change

What is climate change

Climate change is defined as any long-term alteration of global temperatures and weather patterns. Among the effects that climate change is causing, the most significant is the increase in global warming related to the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is the natural phenomenon whereby the atmosphere retains part of the energy from the sun, preventing it from being dispersed into space. This causes the warming of the planet's surface, making life possible, and occurs through gases, namely greenhouse gases. These gases can be of natural origin, such as water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), or anthropogenic, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

The greenhouse effect is therefore not negative per se. However, human activity has caused an excessive increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the air, leading to the overheating of the atmosphere and the resulting climate change.

Global warming is also causing rising sea water temperatures and melting glaciers that alter the ecosystem and lead to rising sea levels. 

Infographic on greenhouse gases and climate change

How to combat climate change

In line with SDG 13 of the UN 2030 Agenda, Acea Group contributes to fight this phenomenon by implementing initiatives to protect the environment and the territory, such as the efficient use of resources, the containment of climate-altering emissions, actions to increase the capacity of infrastructures to adapt to climate change and raising awareness on climate change issues.

Acea's commitment to reducing emissions

To tackle climate change, Acea is taking action to curb emissions from its industrial activities.
It also monitors and assesses its carbon footprint and identifies mitigation actions to reduce its impact.
The Group offers its customers increasingly green and sustainable services, as well as implementing initiatives to make its infrastructure more resilient.

Biomethane production from sewage treatment plants

To reduce energy consumption from fossil fuels and with a view to a circular economy, Acea Ato 2 is carrying out interventions in the Roma Nord and Roma Est purification plants to transform the biogas produced on site into biomethane. The purpose is to "isolate" the methane contained in the biogas, controlling its quality and quantity and optimising its utilisation.
While today biogas is mainly used to produce heat to serve digesters, the biomethane obtained from the refining process will be fed into the existing gas network and destined for use as biofuel for motor vehicles through a "certification" of the quantities produced, with considerable environmental benefits related to the reduction of transport emissions.

Commercial offers and value-added services

Acea Energia has introduced 100% environmentally friendly and value-added products such as boilers, air conditioners and wall boxes to reduce consumption in its light and gas commercial offer. In addition to green-certified electricity with "Guarantee of Origin", the sale of gas is expected to offset carbon dioxide emissions produced by consumption through the purchase of certified carbon credits (VER - Verified Emission Reduction). In addition, Acea Innovation offers energy requalification services that generate a reduction in the climate impact of homes and cities. 

Agenda 2030 Goal 13: challenges for Acea

Acea carries out numerous actions in line with Goal 13 of the UN 2030 Agenda for a more sustainable future. For many years, it has been responding to the CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) questionnaire promoted by the organisation of the same name, through which the company provides detailed information on its governance, strategy, actions taken and performance on climate change. In 2022 Acea also published a Climate Disclosure in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
The document is divided into four subject areas (Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, Metrics and Targets) and describes the strategy adopted by the Group to manage climate change issues and the objectives identified in the medium to long term.    

Highlights

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