Sustainability

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In recent years, Adif has evolved from a business model in which Corporate Social Responsibility played a relevant but complementary role and sometimes separated from the entity's strategy, to a model in which the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability strategy is equivalent to the Business Strategy. Consequently, the firm's whole strategy and operations must be based on our responsibility as a company vis-à-vis society to thus contribute to a development model that is truly sustainable.
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From this vision, based on Corporate Responsibility and focused on Sustainable Development, a strategy has been designed and deployed that focuses on the safety of the railway system, in developing and managing a network capable of providing a reliable, inclusive and competitive rail service, and in sustainability as a way to guarantee both the financial viability of our companies and the generation of positive impacts and to improve our ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) performance. All this with a clear and rigorous focus on results, seeking maximum effectiveness and efficiency in managing public resources.
Consequently, Adif not only tries to provide an effective response to the demands and expectations of our most direct stakeholders. It also seeks to contribute to specific sustainable development goals in accordance with the 2030 Agenda designed by the United Nations and present in the public policies promoted by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda and by the Government of Spain.

Forums on Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability.

This groups together all Spanish entities affiliated with the United Nations Global Compact. It is the largest voluntary initiative for corporate social responsibility in the world.
A leading organization in sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Representative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in Spain.
High-level group where the top executives of 25 companies convey a message of business leadership in sustainability.
Through its various working committees (SDGs, Sustainability and Digitalization, Equality, Circular Economy), this organization aims to be a benchmark in the knowledge, analysis, innovation, design and development of CSR, promoting its integration into the strategy of organizations.

Environment and Sustainability

Through its activity, Adif tries to contribute to the constant improvement of the environment and socioeconomic well-being by incorporating the values that should guide its strategic decisions regarding its course of action and including them in its management model.
The vision, mission and values defined in Adif's 2030 Strategic Plan clearly state the all activities must be carried out with respect for the environment.

Two lines of action

Environmental Policy

The environmental policy develops the vision, mission and values of the company and constitutes the highest-level document regarding the environmental commitment of Adif and Adif Alta Velocidad.

Environmental reports

All information on the environmental aspects and performance of the activities and services provided by Adif is published annually in the Environmental report.
This ensures that the requirement to report on environmental matters is fulfilled. The Environmental report follows the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

Comprehensive environmental management Main areas of action

According to the Management Assignment Agreement signed by Adif and Adif-AV, on July 9, 2019, and published in the BOE on August 8, 2019, the Assignment is granted to Adif-AV for the execution of activities of a material or technical nature necessary for the integral environmental management (Annex No. 1), as Corporate Environmental Body.

Social sustainability

The social perspective of sustainability lies for Adif in the contribution to the cohesion of society and the actions to improve the well-being carried out by the company both for the people who make up the company and for all citizens.  From the Corporate Responsibility that inspires the entire strategy, and as part of the contribution to Sustainability, Adif intends to generate a positive impact on society through projects and initiatives that add social value to our environment, taking into account the need to move towards a more inclusive, supportive and culturally rich social model.

Main areas of action

Governance

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Adif is committed to upstanding and transparent management that is responsible and efficient in terms of natural and economic resources. The good governance of the organization guarantees its responsible management, the pillars of which are to guarantee regulatory compliance, promote business ethics in the culture of the organization (with special emphasis on zero tolerance for corruption) and develop transparency in management.

Relevant aspects of good governance and transparency:
 

  • Corporate Model of Regulatory Compliance. Since 2009, Adif has had a Code of Ethics and Conduct approved by the Board of Directors, updated together with the rest of the policies and procedures implementing it in 2018 and 2019, taking into account legislative changes and the continuous improvement process of the Model. Access to the Ethics Channel
  • Corporate Anti-Fraud Policy. This applies to all members of the Board of Directors, Senior Management and in general, without exception and whatever their position, responsibility, occupation or geographic location, to all Adif employees. Institutional Declaration of the Fight Against Fraud
  • Comprehensive Risk Management Model. This enables the establishment of appropriate information channels that guarantee adequate communication to promote a culture of proactive risk management in all areas of the company, maintaining consistent risk levels. In the evolution of the corporate model, an analysis of the ESG components is being carried out as part of the review of the Entity's risk map.

Reports

Integrated Management Report. Since 2018, in application of Law 11/2018 on non-financial information and diversity, Adif has included non-financial information in the Integrated Management Report and subjects it to the same criteria for approval, deposit and publication as the annual accounts (March 30th). The purpose of this integration is to implement the most advanced trends in reporting and transparency, giving greater relevance to information on results and impact on society and the environment, thus complementing in a more balanced way the financial information that continues to be reflected in the Management report.
Since 2020, according to Law 11/2018 on non-financial information and diversity, external verification of the status of the non-financial information included in the Management Report has been carried out by an independent third party (ISAE 3000 standard).
Management Report (includes Corporate Sustainability Information)

Management Report (includes Corporate Sustainabilty Information)

On the basis of the Good Governance Code (CNMV) in 2019, the most significant indicators of corporate sustainable information and Adif AV's contribution to the SDGs were reported for the first time to the entity's Board of Directors (Executive Report 2020).
Sustainability Report. From 2006 to 2018, Adif reported all aspects related to sustainability through its sustainability report, which was drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative Guide (GRI), in its respective updated annual versions.

Economic Sustainability

Integrated Management Report

As of 2017, Adif's corporate sustainable information has been included in the Management Report, which is part of the Annual Accounts approved and audited in each financial year; prior to 2017, there was a Sustainability Report that was independent from the Management Report. 

With the entry into force of Law 11/2018, the type of information to be included in the Non-Financial Information Statement (EINF) has been standardized. With this, the knowledge of the Entity's evolution and economic result is expanded based on the impact its activity has on environmental, social, human rights, anti-corruption, equality and universal accessibility issues, among other aspects; and in addition, this EINF must be verified through an independent professional provider of this type of services, which will issue the corresponding report each fiscal year.