In 2010 abertis reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 9% compared to the previous year, primarily due to efforts made by the company in energy saving and efficiency.

As part of its environmental strategy, abertis has an Energy Saving and Efficiency Plan which comprises various environmental protection activities and runs throughout the Group companies. In 2010, the energy saving plan was continuously implemented through the promotion of the use of renewable energies, the installation of photovoltaic solar panels in the Group’s buildings and the creation of a mobility plan for employees.

The company is also developing other environmental policies such as the promotion of biofuels as a substitute for fossil fuels and the promotion of the Via-T electronic toll system, which contributes to the saving of CO2 emissions. Through the abertis foundation, the Group has also promoted a study on the greenhouse gas emissions produced in the abertis autopistas‘ network in Spain.

Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index

abertis was placed 9th in the 2011 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, the ranking list produced by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for Spain and Portugal. This ranking assesses companies’ transparency with regard to carbon emissions, as well as the inclusion of specific policies to tackle climate change in their overall strategy. The CDP organisation works with investors worldwide to promote investment opportunities and reduce the risks posed by climate change. It therefore asks almost 6,000 of the world’s biggest companies to disclose their climate strategies, greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the standardised Investor CDP format.

In order to determine each company’s carbon disclosure rating, CDP assesses aspects such as the level of transparency with regard to the exposure to climate risk and opportunities, strategic focus and environmental commitment, the extent to which emissions are measured and internal data management practices, among other things.

Commitment to the environment

abertis’ environmental strategy is put into practice through the gradual implementation of an environmental management system in the various Group companies, according to the requirements of the international ISO 14001 standard. The framework of a continuous improvement management system enables the organisation to minimise the environmental impact under a common umbrella.

Mitigation of climate change is one of the core areas for the reduction of the environmental impact resulting from the Group’s activities. This objective is brought to fruition through the appropriate management of energy and water resources, a reduction in the use of resources and the implementation and promotion of innovative measures aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the services offered by abertis.

Minimisation of the environmental impact also includes aspects such as the reduction of acoustic pollution and waste generation, as well as measures adopted to preserve and improve the natural areas in which the Group operates, thereby mitigating the impact that infrastructures could have on biodiversity.