Linked SDGs Linked SDGs Linked SDGs As a company taking care of one of life’s essentials – water – we know that the resilience of our business is intrinsically linked to the resilience of our region, its communities and the natural environment. Our long-standing commitment to sustainability has been clear for some time, but over the past 18 months we have worked hard to ensure it focuses on the areas we know can have a genuine impact for our region – climate change mitigation and resilience, reducing waste, taking care of nature, taking care of our people, customers and communities, and doing all of this in a transparent and genuine way. We launched our framework in March 2020 with the promise to invest £1.2 billion over the next five years and we are on track to do exactly that, with the opportunity to go even further with the Green Recovery proposals submitted to Ofwat. Across our Annual Report and Sustainability Report we continue to improve the transparency of our reporting, making the information accessible for our stakeholders. This includes following the principles of the GRI with a mapping to the relevant SASB initiatives and continuing to evolve our climate risk disclosures in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (‘TCFD’) guidelines. We have linked our sustainability framework to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (‘SDGs’). Our Purpose Taking care of one of life’s essentials Taking care of the environment Ensuring a sustainable water cycle Secure water sources in the long term – through catchment management, demand reduction and climate change adaptation – so that we can deliver our services for future generations. Enhancing our natural environment Protect and enhance nature at each stage of the water cycle by improving biodiversity and stopping pollution, benefiting nature, local communities and our business. Making the most of our resources Generate renewable energy and other useful resources from our waste, and aim for zero waste to landfill through our business activities. Mitigating climate change Play our part in reducing global carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, aiming for net zero carbon and supporting the UK’s energy transition. Helping people to thrive Delivering an affordable service for everyone Work with our industry to end water poverty by supporting customers who struggle to pay their bills and providing priority support to those who need it. Providing a fair, inclusive and safe place to work Build a workforce that is reflective of the community we serve, and foster a culture where everyone can be themselves, driving better decision making and performance. Investing in skills and knowledge Support the skills base of our people and our region, and inspire the next generation of customers to adopt more sustainable behaviours. Making a positive difference in the community Serve our local communities through community projects and volunteering, and global communities through charity partnerships. Being a company you can trust Living our Values Nurture a strong, open, one-team culture based on Company Values that articulate what we stand for. Balancing the interests of all our stakeholders Understand the needs of stakeholders in order to make business decisions that benefit shareholders, society and the environment. Running our company for the long term Put strong governance – leadership, ethics, and management of risks and opportunities – at the heart of our business. Being open about what we do and sharing what we know Build trust through transparency, and work with our sector on innovative solutions to our shared challenges. Sustainability Framework Read more in our Annual Report