Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution has unveiled its sustainability strategy in a bid to tackle climate change and support global goals for sustainable development.

The distribution network operator has today launched a six-week consultation on 'Delivering Sustainability in SSEN', seeking feedback on its ambitions, commitments and pathways of change to support a fair and just transition to net zero.

SSEN's vision is for its networks to be a key enabler for the energy transition and to lead by example in reducing its own impact on the environment. SSEN's strategic approach, centred around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), commits the network operator to setting greenhouse gas reduction targets that are accredited by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), aligning with the latest climate science to put them on a 1.5 degree trajectory.

Following extensive engagement with customers and stakeholders, SSEN Distribution has set five core sustainability ambitions, aligned to the UN SDGs:

1. Serving the Public Interest: We will ensure a safe and resilient network and work collaboratively to build trust and ensure legitimacy in everything that we do, for the greater good of our local communities and GB.

2. The Net Zero Transition: We will support the global drive to net zero by committing to a climate science-backed net zero goal, which is also considerate of wider societal impact.

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3. Enhancing Our Local Environment: We will ensure a net positive impact to environments we disrupt and commit to no further degradation to our local environment through an ambitious Environmental Action Plan.

4. Inclusive Service Provision: We will operate in a manner that is inclusive, fair and provides for the needs of all customers and communities we serve.

5. Investing in People: We will create an inclusive workplace that has equality and diversity at its core. We will also deploy robust resource planning to deliver on our future programmes.

Shirley Robertson, ED2 Sustainability Strategy Lead, said: "At SSEN Distribution, we stand ready to create shifts in how we operate to secure a sustainable economic recovery and accelerate a transparent and credible transition to net zero. Our sustainability strategy addresses the challenge of climate change at its core, sewing a green thread through our business initiatives as we create a fair and just decarbonised electricity network for the future.

"Co-creating our sustainability ambitions over the past 18 months with our customers and stakeholders has proved invaluable, pushing our business forward to become truly purpose-led. We are now calling on our stakeholders to comment on our strategy to ensure our approach reflects their wants and needs, delivering a positive impact on society as we transition to net zero."

In January this year, SSEN Distribution became the first UK Distribution Network Operator to demonstrate its climate leadership by publicly committing to setting science-based targets, aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative. This not only provides SSEN with a credible, trusted platform that is recognised globally, but also ensures that SSEN's ambitions are in line with the latest climate science and wider net zero targets.

The network operator is committed to setting a 1.5 degree science-based target and will continue engagement with the SBTi to achieve accreditation throughout summer 2021, following the submission of its upcoming business plan for the next price control period, RIIO-ED2.

SSEN Distribution's consultation on 'Delivering Sustainability in SSEN' is now available online and will remain open until Friday 30th July. For more information, and to have your say, go to www.ssen.co.uk/sustainability.