Managing our environmental impacts
We apply recognised environmental management practices such as the mitigation hierarchy, the waste hierarchy, the precautionary approach, best available techniques, and the ISO 14001 environmental management principles. These environmental management practices are embedded in our governance, risk and performance framework.
In the planning phase of our projects, before construction or operations can commence, we conduct environmental and social impact assessments. We use the outcomes to identify the measures we can put in place in our operations to lessen that impact.
We monitor the impact of our activities when they move into the operational phase and conduct environmental audits, as appropriate, to ensure compliance with our standards and to identify further opportunities for improvement. We engage with stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of our operations.
Climate governance
Our Board is responsible for our climate strategy and for ensuring Harbour maintains sound climate risk management and internal controls systems, including responsibility for setting and monitoring our company's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-reduction targets.
They have oversight of climate-related risks and opportunities and ensure climate-related considerations are embedded in our decision-making, including the application of strict financial criteria, such as our internal carbon price, across all key investment decisions. At project level, the assessment of climate topics and related risks is an integral part of the project approval process.
For more information on our climate risk management and metrics and targets see the Sustainability Review in our 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.
Zero routine flaring by 2030
We endorse the World Bank Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative. In 2024, flaring amounted to 37 ktonnes (2023: 47 ktonnes), showing a reduction of 22 per cent through improved production efficiencies. Routine flaring made up 63 per cent of the total volume flared, with the remainder comprising non-routine flaring (such as from planned maintenance activities), and flaring for safety reasons.
Effluents, spills and waste
We work hard to avoid pollution and to continually assess the related risks associated with our production and other activities. These risks mainly relate to planned and unplanned discharges, and the production of waste.