Environmental responsibility

Biodiversity - A nature-inclusive energy transition

Climate and biodiversity are closely linked as climate change is a key driver for biodiversity loss. Decarbonising our assets and our customers – and scaling up new fossil-free electricity – are therefore the greatest contributions we can make to the energy transition. At the same time, investing in these activities has an impact on the environment and natural ecosystems around us.

Targets and key activities are outlined in our biodiversity transition plan for 2030, through which we show how we will contribute to the Kunming-Montreal framework in its efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Biodiversity transition plan

At Vattenfall, we are committed to a nature-inclusive energy transition.

Biodiversity transition plan 2030 (PDF 6 MB)

We work on three levels:

Direct operations

We will continue to minimise biodiversity impacts through innovative solutions in project development and site management.

Reducing the impact of new projects by applying the mitigation hierarchy
Stimulating habitat enhancement at existing sites
Investing in biodiversity research and development

Supply chain

We will address biodiversity in our supply chain by working with suppliers and partners to adopt sustainable practices.

Addressing impacts from a material and risk perspective (fuel sourcing, raw materials and contractor requirements)
Reducing CO₂ emissions to limit impacts of climate change

Ecosystems and society

We aim to create solutions that protect ecosystems, combat climate change, and benefit society.

Developing nature-based solutions
Protecting forests and wetlands, starting with land that we own and manage
Seeking partnerships that can drive broader and more transformative change

Examples of biodiversity targets

Biodiversity management in Distribution

By 2030, we will have taken measures and implemented management plans in 100% of the identified biodiversity hotspots in the regional power line corridors (250 km of power line corridors) and we will have implemented biodiversity measures in at least 20 stations.

Information on progress so far can be found in Vattenfall’s Annual and sustainability report 2024.

Environmental adaptation of hydro power

Until 2028, we will invest SEK 65 million in a voluntary biodiversity programme for hydro power, focusing on biodiversity research and the implementation of concrete measures that go beyond legal requirements. The programme will focus on several key areas related to the environmental adaptation of hydro power.

One aim is that the biodiversity programme will result in at least five new innovative solutions to improve biodiversity, to be implemented in relevant hydro power affected river reaches no later than 2030. The designs, findings and experience will be communicated and shared with scientific, public and industrial communities.

Measures to improve conditions for red listed species affected by hydro power are an important part of our biodiversity work. As a first step, we will ensure that we have policies and action plans in place for key species and their habitats. By 2030, work will be underway to implement actions for all identified key species.