In 2024, we updated our 'Biodiversity policy', which applies to all sites owned and operated by Ørsted, including sites in or near biodiversity-sensitive areas. The policy addresses the direct impacts from our operations on biodiversity, ecosystem protection, and sustainable ocean practices. The scope of the policy covers all of Ørsted’s renewable energy assets, both offshore and onshore, and includes our initial steps towards addressing biodiversity in our value chain and the associated dependencies. More specifically, we engage with some of our tier 1 suppliers on their progress on working with biodiversity, similar to our approach with decarbonisation. Our biodiversity policy does not currently cover the impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems from e.g. raw material extraction in our upstream value chain. However, we are committed to working with our suppliers through our 'Supply chain sustainability programme' on mitigating their impacts on biodiversity, where we are currently engaging with our tier 1 suppliers.

We have identified material negative impacts in our upstream value chain. These impacts are primarily direct impact drivers of biodiversity loss due to extraction of natural resources and mining activities. Furthermore, mining also has negative impacts on the extent and condition of ecosystems and thus impacts species diversity. As mentioned previously, we used the Global Biodiversity Score tool to obtain an overview of biodiversity- and ecosystems-related impacts in our upstream value chain, using global average data for our industry. We are dependent on mining of metals and minerals to expand the capacity of renewable energy assets, just as our peers in the industry. However, we acknowledge the trade-offs of mining in the value chain, which we actively work towards managing. As mentioned before, we are actively engaging with our tier 1 suppliers on their impacts on biodiversity, and we also continuously work towards gathering location-specific data on our upstream value chain.

We have identified material negative impacts in our upstream value chain. These impacts are primarily direct impact drivers of biodiversity loss due to extraction of natural resources and mining activities. Furthermore, mining also has negative impacts on the extent and condition of ecosystems and thus impacts species diversity. As mentioned previously, we used the Global Biodiversity Score tool to obtain an overview of biodiversity- and ecosystems-related impacts in our upstream value chain, using global average data for our industry. We are dependent on mining of metals and minerals to expand the capacity of renewable energy assets, just as our peers in the industry. However, we acknowledge the trade-offs of mining in the value chain, which we actively work towards managing. As mentioned before, we are actively engaging with our tier 1 suppliers on their impacts on biodiversity, and we also continuously work towards gathering location-specific data on our upstream value chain.

We have identified material negative impacts in our upstream value chain. These impacts are primarily direct impact drivers of biodiversity loss due to extraction of natural resources and mining activities. Furthermore, mining also has negative impacts on the extent and condition of ecosystems and thus impacts species diversity. As mentioned previously, we used the Global Biodiversity Score tool to obtain an overview of biodiversity- and ecosystems-related impacts in our upstream value chain, using global average data for our industry. We are dependent on mining of metals and minerals to expand the capacity of renewable energy assets, just as our peers in the industry. However, we acknowledge the trade-offs of mining in the value chain, which we actively work towards managing. As mentioned before, we are actively engaging with our tier 1 suppliers on their impacts on biodiversity, and we also continuously work towards gathering location-specific data on our upstream value chain.

During 2024, we have taken several steps towards meeting our ambition of net-positive energy projects from 2030 and pursuing our material opportunity and positive impact related to biodiversity restoration, research, and innovation. For several of our biodiversity pilot projects, we engage with local communities in our biodiversity- and ecosystems-related actions. This was for example the case with our Humber Estuary restoration project in the UK, which we completed in collaboration with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. The restoration of the Humber Estuary is an example of coastal ecosystem restoration, a nature-based solution that contributes to the sequestration of carbon, while also restoring the natural habitat to improve biodiversity. We have not yet incorporated indigenous knowledge into our actions; however, this is integrated in our new 'Biodiversity measurement framework' and will be done going forward. As of 2024, we have not incorporated biodiversity offsets in our actions for any of our assets or across other operations.

Similar to the development of our biodiversity projects (see key actions below), we have also included key stakeholder concerns and interests into the scope of our biodiversity policy. For example, local communities, NGOs, and academia are included in the stakeholder engagement steps during the various phases of an asset’s life cycle.

We have identified material negative impacts in our upstream value chain. These impacts are primarily direct impact drivers of biodiversity loss due to extraction of natural resources and mining activities. Furthermore, mining also has negative impacts on the extent and condition of ecosystems and thus impacts species diversity. As mentioned previously, we used the Global Biodiversity Score tool to obtain an overview of biodiversity- and ecosystems-related impacts in our upstream value chain, using global average data for our industry. We are dependent on mining of metals and minerals to expand the capacity of renewable energy assets, just as our peers in the industry. However, we acknowledge the trade-offs of mining in the value chain, which we actively work towards managing. As mentioned before, we are actively engaging with our tier 1 suppliers on their impacts on biodiversity, and we also continuously work towards gathering location-specific data on our upstream value chain.

Our biodiversity policy does not currently cover the impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems from e.g. raw material extraction in our upstream value chain. However, we are committed to working with our suppliers through our 'Supply chain sustainability programme' on mitigating their impacts on biodiversity, where we are currently engaging with our tier 1 suppliers.

Accountability of the policy lies with the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). To ensure that our policy is implemented and taken into account across our business, the policy includes an overview of the governance structure to support its implementation as well as specific third-party standards that support our work, e.g. the EU taxonomy for sustainable economic activities.

During 2024, we have taken several steps towards meeting our ambition of net-positive energy projects from 2030 and pursuing our material opportunity and positive impact related to biodiversity restoration, research, and innovation. For several of our biodiversity pilot projects, we engage with local communities in our biodiversity- and ecosystems-related actions. This was for example the case with our Humber Estuary restoration project in the UK, which we completed in collaboration with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. The restoration of the Humber Estuary is an example of coastal ecosystem restoration, a nature-based solution that contributes to the sequestration of carbon, while also restoring the natural habitat to improve biodiversity. We have not yet incorporated indigenous knowledge into our actions; however, this is integrated in our new 'Biodiversity measurement framework' and will be done going forward. As of 2024, we have not incorporated biodiversity offsets in our actions for any of our assets or across other operations.