Climate Action 2014-2015

CLIMATE STRATEGY:
CHALLENGES AND ACTIONS
By Martha Ruby Falla, Sustainability Director, Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. E.S.P. (ISA)
"High voltage energy
transport is an activity whose
environmental impacts are
highly manageable."
ISA and its companies have declared
their commitment to a framework of
environmentally sustainable development,
exercising responsibility for the impacts
that their decisions or activities might
cause to society and the environment.
ISA’s ongoing planning takes account
of its greenhouse gas inventory, and the
contribution it makes to alleviating the
consequences of climate change. The
challenges of mitigation and adjustment
are tackled through land management,
as well as compensation for the carbon
footprint. ISA manages its business with a
focus on corporate sustainability.
BUSINESS IMPACTS ON
SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental management is
conducted in adherence to national
standards, the international standard
ISO 14000, and the frame of reference
based on corporate ethics. This involves
suppliers and contractors from the
early stages, preparatory to offers and
obtaining environmental licenses.
We have fully identified the physical,
biotic, economic and social aspects, in
our mission to prevent, mitigate, control
and offset impacts, through management
plans derived from studies for each
project. High voltage energy transport is
an activity whose environmental impacts
are highly manageable, at all stages of the
life-cycle of the assets, as illustrated by
the following points:
Our activities are not extractive.
98 per cent of solid waste materials are
recycled as industrial surplus. Hazardous
waste is separated at source, and
disposed of by registered contractors.
The design and layout of the lines is
managed to have the least effect on
waterways, flora and fauna.
Electric and electromagnetic fields
around transmission lines are
managed to the highest international
standards for the protection of people,
environment and animals.
Greenhouse gas emissions are managed
through proper measurement and
standardisation of process gas handling.
We also contribute to climate change
mitigation and adaptation through
instruments such as the purchase of
carbon credits to offset the footprint.
Our processes do not draw directly on
water and energy resources, since we
have our own rationally planned systems.
MANAGING THE CARBON
FOOTPRINT
In 2013, it became possible to arrange
compensation for emissions made
during 2012. Accordingly, ISA received
a Carbon Neutral Certificate by the
purchase of bonds from South Pole
Carbon, a global leader in carbon
offsetting. By compensating for its
carbon footprint in energy transmission,
ISA has assumed a new environmental
and social commitment.
The bonds purchased will be applied
in the town of Acandí in Chocó, under
the project of the Chocó–Darién
Preservation Corridor, unique in the
country and one of 34 in the world. In
total, ISA offset 3,890 tonnes of CO 2
equivalent during the year, by using
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