Scottish renewable energy company Drax has announced an enhanced approach to its global sustainability efforts, designed to improve its impact on the climate, nature, and people.

The company has developed a new sustainability framework in consultation with stakeholders, including scientists, academics, employees, investors, and environmental NGOs. This framework includes 26 specific, measurable, and time-bound targets addressing issues such as emissions reduction, forestry, biodiversity, water efficiency, and community support.

A key ambition is to achieve net zero emissions across Drax's value chain by 2040. This includes decarbonising supply chains to prioritise low-carbon biomass delivery to Drax Power Station and transitioning to renewable power sources for its pellet plants.

Key initiatives included in the new sustainability framework include:

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• Community giving focused on providing STEM education and green skills training for people in under-served communities in the regions where Drax operates.

• Automating digital data gathering to improve sourcing governance and traceability in the company's supply chain

• Implement nature positive action plans for Drax's sites and develop plans for Drax's priority biomass sourcing areas to help nature thrive by the end of 2030.

• Continue to develop and evaluate options to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere via Drax and Elimini's carbon removals projects.

• Deliver biodiversity enhancements across all Drax sites and take action to support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in Drax's value chain by the end of 2030.

• Working to represent the communities Drax operates in and prioritising health and safety for all Drax colleagues.

Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Drax Group Chief Sustainability Officer, said: "Our new sustainability framework signals a significant change in the way Drax manages its impact on the environment, communities and nature. Throughout the process we have listened to and learned much from the wide variety of stakeholders who have helped us develop this plan, which will be key to helping to ensure Drax can provide renewable biomass power generation as sustainably and responsibly as possible for years to come.

"This launch is not the end of the process, however, it is just the start. In the coming months and years, the climate crisis will become more acute. The need for action will become greater, and the role of carbon removals will become even more important. That means we will have to work even harder to aim to ensure our operations help reduce humanity's impact on the planet."