CHAPTER 3 We advance in sustainable performance

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Environmental statements

3.2.2 Reducing our impacts

The main environmental impacts relate to the atmosphere, climate, marine environment, soil, surface and groundwater, noise levels and biodiversity.

All operations are monitored by business and corporate technical teams, ensuring both legal compliance with regulatory requirements and minimisation of impacts.

At the beginning of each year, we publish valid Environmental Statements externally veri- fied by AENOR, under the requirements of the European Eco-Management and Audit Sche- me (EMAS), for our main industrial facilities in Spain. We also share our performance with our stakeholders.

We also have eight sustainability certifications under the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) voluntary sche- me in our Refining, Chemicals, Marketing and Distribution and Trading businesses.

The implementation of these systems contributes to the application of the precautionary principle established in the Rio Declaration on the Environment, an area in which other actions are also taken, such as:

· Environmental risk management. · Audit programmes. · Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP). · Due diligence investigations for purchases and acquisitions of industrial plants. · Safety data sheets for all our products and requests for safety data sheets for our raw materials. · Plans, protocols and drills focused on the prevention of accidental marine pollution.

RECOGNITION FOR LA RÁBIDA REFINERY Our La Rábida Refinery (Spain) has received recognition from the European Commission for its environmental achievements, encouraging it to continue sharing good practices and environmental commitment. Being an example of transparency has earned it the 'Early Birds' distinction.