In the Concessions business, VINCI Concessions is expanding ISO 14001 certification to enhance risk prevention in airports and other concessions, which requires:
VINCI Autoroutes also set up a procedure to manage pollution incidents on motorways or other sites, which is continuously improved based on feedback from incidents and emergency drills. Different players work together to implement the procedure:
Furthermore, business lines conduct awareness and training initiatives (see paragraph 3.1.3, “Employee training and awareness”, page 208). Regular 15-minute environmental sessions at worksites build awareness among employees and subcontractors alike. In 2021, 51,837 hours of environmental training were provided (52,891 in 2020).
Climate change is a reality: global temperatures have risen by more than 1°C compared with pre-industrial levels, leading to increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events each year. According to climate models published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in relation to the RCP 6.0 and RCP 8.5 scenarios, current production and consumption practices could see temperatures rise by around 3.5°C to 5°C by the end of this century, resulting in major and irreversible changes that could affect all segments of our society. The IPCC’s Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels details the consequences for people and the planet even if emissions are reduced considerably, while the first instalment of its Sixth Assessment Report presents the most compelling evidence to date that human activities are causing climate change.
In response, VINCI has committed to taking concrete action. When it adopted its new environmental ambition in 2019, VINCI further strengthened the Group’s targets, looking to align itself with the Paris Agreement. The Group is therefore committed to achieving a 40% reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 compared with 2018 levels (see paragraph 3.2, “Acting for the climate”, page 210). According to guidance from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), this commitment makes the Group’s target setting strategy consistent with a reduction “well below 2°C”. In addition to this absolute value for its emissions reduction target, VINCI aims to reach carbon neutrality (by achieving net zero emissions) in its direct scope of business activities by 2050. VINCI also pledged in 2021 to reduce its Scope 3 indirect emissions by 20% by 2030 compared to the 2019 baseline. This commitment has been validated by the SBTi and is based on the emissions categories defined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol).
To meet its objectives, VINCI is developing tools and action plans specifically for its businesses to help them measure and manage all the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their activities (ISO Scopes 1, 2 and 3).
8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2018 and 2021, excluding the impact of acquisitions
Some measures are being implemented by all Group companies (see the actions described in paragraph 3.2, “Acting for the climate”, page 210): gradual increase of electric power for the light vehicle fleet, training in eco-driving practices, modernisation of site machinery and heavy vehicle fleets, experiments with low-emission technologies, and the increased use of electricity from renewable sources. Others are being implemented by specific businesses. They include the replacement of heavy fuel oil by natural gas in industrial processes (Eurovia), regulation of temperature in buildings and terminals (VINCI Energies, VINCI Concessions), testing the use of biogas fuels for some utility vehicles (VINCI Autoroutes), improved energy efficiency of worksite facilities (VINCI Construction), and the production of solar power for self-consumption (VINCI Airports).
25%of electricity used was from renewable sources in 2021
Group entities also deploy solutions to reduce emissions in the products and services they deliver in their business activities. For example, ensuring the energy efficiency of buildings under construction or renovation is a key objective for the Group. Accordingly, VINCI Construction companies have shown that they are able to meet the building industry’s highest standards, obtaining labels and certifications that go beyond regulatory compliance. They can ensure the actual energy performance of buildings (through the Oxygen® label, attributed to 80 buildings in France), in line with the energy efficiency guarantee applied by VINCI Energies to the operating phase. Using eco-design software developed in partnership with the Mines ParisTech engineering school, VINCI Construction teams also offer solutions for predicting and managing the energy consumption of delivered buildings. VINCI Construction companies therefore embed energy efficiency into a building’s entire life cycle.
