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 recommendations of the Icelandic government, Reykjavik Energy Group has prioritised the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and emphasises five of them in its operations.
The five SDGs were discussed in four work-shops: One with managers of the Group, two with employees, and one with external stakeholders. The last one included representatives from public institutions, large suppliers of goods and services, large customers, contractors and trade unions.
The work-shops ranked the SDGs, both with respect to where Reykjavik Energy Group could positively impact the progress of respective goals, and where its operations could possibly impede them. The Board of Directors of Reykjavik Energy Group agreed that the Group's policy, that emphasis social responsibility, would take note of the conclusion of the steering committees, resulting in the focus being on these five SDGs.
Reykjavik Energy Group's Board of Directors' regular review of all mutual policy documents uses these five SDGs as a frame of reference.
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 Group's core activities.
7 Affordable and clean energy
Sustainable generation and distribution of electricity and heat are part of Reykjavik Energy Group's core activities.
12 Responsible consumption and production
Responsible procurement and reduction of waste are crucial for Reykjavik Energy Group to be able to fulfil its core activities.
13 Climate action
Focused climate action is an essential part of all business activities.
The main emphases and changes of emphasis in the work of the Reykjavík Energy Group appear in so-called strategic initiatives. The strategic initiatives' purpose is to develop the companies within the group and are a driving force behind changes in operations. They can reach more than one subsidiary within the group and it is specifically monitored whether these support one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2022, five strategic initiatives were related to SDG 7, four related to SDG 3, three strategic initiatives related to SDGs 6, 12 and 13, and two related to SDGs 6 and 9.
All boards of directors within the OR Group have prioritised the UN's SDGs with respect to each company's operations.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 1’s Target 1.5, which is: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
Reykjavik Energy works to promote SDG 1’s Target 1.a, which is: Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions.
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 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 12.6, 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.
