In 2024, we laid the foundation for many of the initiatives currently in progress for managing our negative impact and risks associated with failing to respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights and ensuring FPIC in our own operations. We began by developing a global guidance for social and human rights impact assessments, which will allow us to proactively manage these risks and impacts before the construction of new projects.

Furthermore, we finalised our internal guidelines for free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), a framework designed to ensure respectful and transparent engagement with Indigenous communities. These guidelines guarantee that we secure consent from Indigenous communities before initiating projects that might impact their lands or cultural heritage.

We have identified three key material financial risks in our operations that arise from our interactions with and dependencies on affected communities. First, local community resistance to renewable energy projects – if not proactively addressed – may lead to delays in project timelines, increased costs from operational disruptions, potential legal costs from community lawsuits, and political or reputational risks. This risk is especially significant for communities in industrialised or rural areas that depend on the same natural resources, such as land or water, or infrastructure that our operations may impact. For instance, for wind or solar projects, disputes over reduced access to land or sea space or environmental concerns, including biodiversity impacts, can hinder progress. Second, increasing requirements for local content and social impact in tender processes present a risk, as meeting these expectations requires significant engagement and resources to ensure local communities benefit from our projects. Third, securing the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous communities presents a risk, particularly in regions like the US and Australia, where Indigenous Peoples maintain strong cultural and ownership ties to their lands. Failure to ensure consent through an adequate FPIC process – due to insufficient engagement by authorities, business partners, or previous stakeholders – can result in project delays, added costs, and strained relationships that may limit future opportunities in these areas.