5 Gender equality
Gender equality is a human rights issue that aims to value individuals on merit, which is fundamental for sustainable operations.
In accordance with the guidelines of the United Nations and Icelandic authorities, Reykjavík Energy has prioritised the Sustainable Development Goals and places special emphasis on six of them in the group's operations.
The respective goals were initially prioritised in such a way that four workshops were held; with managers within the group, two with staff, and one with external stakeholders. In the latter, representatives from public institutions, major goods and service suppliers, major customers, contractors, and a labour union, among others, participated.
In 2023, Reykjavík Energy's policy on corporate social responsibility was merged into the group's environmental and resource policy under the banner of a new Sustainability policy. In this policy formulation by RE's BoD, an additional focus goal was added, Sustainable Development Goal 15 - Life on land. The regular review by RE's board of all the group's joint policy documents takes these emphases into account.
5 Gender equality
Gender equality is a human rights issue that aims to value individuals on merit, which is fundamental for sustainable operations.
6 Clean water and sanitation
Acquisition and distribution of water for consumption, fire fighting and the operation of sewerage are part of Reykjavik Energy's core activities.
7 Affordable and clean energy
Sustainable generation and distribution of electricity and heat are part of Reykjavik Energy's core activities.
12 Responsible consumption and production
Responsible procurement and reduction of waste are crucial for Reykjavik Energy to be able to fulfil its core activities.
13 Climate action
Focused climate action is an essential part of all business activities.
15 Life on land
The operations of Reykjavík Energy involve the utilisation of natural resources, not least of which is extensive land use. This must take into account the maintenance and enhancement of biological diversity.
The main focuses and shifts in emphasis in the operations of Reykjavík Energy are reflected in its strategic initiatives. These initiatives develop the companies within the group for the future and are the driving force behind changes in operations. They can extend to more than one company within the group, and it is specifically tracked whether these projects support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, one or more.
In 2023, work was carried out on seven strategic initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13, five support SDGs 7 and 12, three are related to goal 11, two to goals 3, 5, and 17, and one project is related to each of goals 8 and 14.
All boards of directors within the OR Group have prioritised the UN's SDGs with respect to each company's operations.
ON Power
Carbfix
Veitur Utilities
Reykjavík Fibre Network
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 3’s Target 3.4, which is: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 4’s Target 4.1, which is: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 4’s Target 4.4, which is: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 5’s Target 5.1, which is: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 5’s Target 5.5, which is: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 5’s Target 5.c, which is: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 6’s Target 6.1, which is: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 7’s Target 7.1, which is: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 7’s Target 7.2, which is: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 8’s Target 8.5, which is: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 8’s Target 8.8, which is: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 9’s Target 9.4, which is: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 9’s Target 9.5, which is: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 10’s Target 10.1, which is: By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 10’s Target 10.2, which is: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 11’s Target 11.6, which is: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 11’s Target 11.a, which is: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, per-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 12’s Target 12.1, which is: Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 12’s Target 12.5, which is: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 12’s Target 12.6, which is: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 12’s Target 12.7, which is: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 13’s Target 13.1, which is: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 13’s Target 13.2, which is: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 13’s Target 13.3, which is: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 14’s Target 14.1, which is: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 15’s Target 15.1, which is: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 15’s Target 15.3, which is: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. This indicator is prioritized by the Icelandic government..
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 17’s Target 17.6, which is: Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism.
