In response to our commitment to sustainability Grupo Azvi sponsored and actively participated in the 1st International Congress on Climate Change in Andalucía. Guillermo Sánchez, Grupo Azvi’s Director of Sustainability , represented the infrastructure sector in the round table ‘Mitigation and Energy. Good practices in the main emitting sectors’.
During his speech, Sánchez highlighted the specific challenges our sector faces in terms of sustainability, addressing aspects such as the need for administrative simplification in environmental regulations. ‘We hope that the new law on sustainable environmental management will not only simplify and streamline administrative procedures, but also, boost social and economic development alongside environmental protection’ he said.
With regard to the challenges facing the sector in terms of emissions reduction, Sánchez identified the offsetting of emissions through absorption projects, the inclusion of the value chain in the reduction policy and the renewal of civil works machinery for its transition to non-fossil fuel energies.
Sánchez also highlighted that, the management of environmental risks and the decarbonisation of its activities ipresent a key opportunity for Grupo Azvi to attract investors and access financing in more demanding markets. ‘This is a way to foster innovation, enhance corporate reputation and attract and retain talent,’ he said.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Grupo Azvi has implemented an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 standard in the different companies and countries where it operates. The company’s third Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction Plan includes measures such as the replacement of diesel and petrol vehicles with electric and hybrid models, the modernisation of railway machinery, the improvement of energy efficiency in its facilities and the reuse of construction materials, as well as the recovery of waste.
Thanks to these initiatives, Grupo Azvi managed to avoid the emission of 7,342 tonnes of GHGs in 2023, and reduce relative emissions by 23% compared to the previous year.
At the table, moderated by Manuel Larrasa, Secretary General for Energy in the Andalusian Regional Government, Guillermo Sánchez was accompanied by Alfonso Vargas, President of the Andalusian Renewable Energy Association (Claner); María Esperanza Morillo, ESG and Communication Director of Atlantic Copper; Pablo Gómez, CEO of Coagener; and Manuel Romero, Managing Director of Emasesa.
Organised by the Andalusian Regional Government’s Department of Sustainability and Environment, with the collaboration of Jerez City Council, the event brought together over 40 experts and 300 attendees to discuss critical issues in the fight against climate change, such as planning, financing and sustainable strategies in the water, forestry, innovation and technology sectors.
Photos: Clim·a Congress | 1st International Congress on Climate Change
