- The XXVI Andalusian Environmental Awards (PAMA in Spanish) have acknowledged the initiatives promoted by Endesa for the conservation of the natural environment, the preservation of biodiversity, habitats, species of flora and fauna and ecosystems in this autonomous community.
- The General Manager of Endesa in Andalusia, Extremadura, Ceuta and Melilla, Rafael Sánchez Durán, was in attendance to collect this award today at a ceremony chaired by the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla.
Endesa has been acknowledged by the Regional Government of Andalusia in the XXVI Andalusian Environmental Awards (PAMA) and is the first energy company to receive this award in the category of Conservation, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development.
This distinction acknowledges works, actions and initiatives in Andalusia aimed at the conservation of the natural environment, the preservation of biodiversity, habitats, species of flora and fauna and ecosystems, whilst promoting the sustainable development of Andalusia.
The award ceremony was chaired by the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, together with the Minister of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco Monterreal, who presented this award to the General Manager of Endesa in Andalusia, Extremadura, Ceuta and Melilla, Rafael Sánchez Durán, for Endesa's contribution to the protection, conservation and dissemination of environmental values in Andalusia.
The General Manager of Endesa in Andalusia, Extremadura, Ceuta and Melilla, Rafael Sánchez Durán, pointed out that "this award highlights the work that Endesa has been undertaking for a number of years to care for the environment and demonstrates that the production and distribution of electricity, especially that generated from renewable sources, is compatible with the protection of biodiversity."
For the protection of the rich avifauna present in the Andalusian community, Endesa is promoting initiatives ranging from the installation of nests for the Osprey population in the provinces of Cádiz and Huelva, the recovery of Lesser Kestrel populations in Malaga, through breeding and subsequent release, and the LIFE Eurokite project for the reintroduction of the Red Kite in the province of Huelva, through the release of species brought from England.
Another decisive factor for the granting of this award was Endesa's constant commitment to the development of studies that contribute to the care of ecosystems. This involved Endesa promoting research projects that demonstrate the impact of the settlement and expansion of exotic invasive algae in the Bay of Cádiz and the conservation of bats that inhabit hydroelectric power plants, such as "Endesa Bats".
Renewables and biodiversity
This award also praised Endesa's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and producing emission-free energy, through ecosystems shared by the primary sector and solar plants. This is the case of the Las Corchas solar plant, located in the municipal district of Carmona in the province of Seville, a venue at the forefront of sustainability, where bees and sheep coexist between solar panels.
The decision for the award also took into account Endesa's contribution to the restoration of natural capital of the Doñana Nature Reserve, through the "Endesa Forest" initiative, which involved reforesting more than 40 hectares in this area that had been devastated by fire in the summer of 2017.
Along these same lines of action for the preservation of the environment, Endesa registered all its generation installations with the EMAS Environmental System and has been registering its carbon footprint since 2013. Since 2016, Endesa has also had the 'Calculo' and 'Reduzco' seals, and in 2017 and 2018 it added the 'Compensate' seal, being the first Spanish energy company to obtain the three hallmarks for the best performance in Spain with regard to climate change. At regional level, Endesa has also been included in the Register for the Andalusian Emissions Compensation System (SACE in Spanish) since 2020.
Today's award by the Regional Government of Andalusia acknowledges the work undertaken over decades by this company, so much so that, in Endesa's first environmental policy approved and published in 1998 already included the adoption of measures to protect species of flora and fauna flora and their habitats.
These actions are currently an integral part of the Biodiversity Conservation Plan that Endesa approved in 2013 in compliance with the latest target for conservation that was established as one of the seven Sustainable Development Commitments within the framework of Endesa's first Strategic Sustainability Plan.
More information about the biodiversity projects developed by Endesa on https://www.endesa.com/es/nuestro-compromiso/medioambiente/conservacion-biodiversidad
About Endesa
Endesa is the largest electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end generation, distribution and marketing business. Through Endesa X it also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy use in homes, companies, industries and Public Administrations. It has also created a new line of business. Endesa X Way is fully dedicated to electric mobility. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribución, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR-related matters. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.