Cepsa reaffirms its responsibility towards biodiversity on World Environment Day

• The annual public presentation of the environmental declarations of its industrial sites demonstrates the company’s commitment
• The Cepsa Foundation is developing several initiatives for the conservation of natural areas, such as Marismas del Odiel, Laguna Primera de Palos and Madrevieja Environmental Station.

The commemoration of World Environment Day, which is being observed this year under the slogan Reimagine, recreate, restore, according to the United Nations (UN), is being celebrated at Cepsa as one of the flagship initiatives in its comprehensive approach in the field of sustainability. In order to highlight its commitment to the environment and environmental care, the company stresses the importance of awareness, continuous improvement, energy efficiency, water saving and the effective reduction of the footprint where it operates, as well as respect for biodiversity in a sustainable coexistence of industry and the environment.

Cepsa has organized a day to raise awareness of the importance of protecting nature with the Professor of Biology at the University of Seville, Jose Carlos Garcia, who shared with Cepsa professionals his experience and passion for the marine environment and the progress of the study promoted by the Cepsa Foundation on the invasive alga Rugulopterix Okamurae that threatens much of the Andalusian coast. In addition, each year the company makes its environmental performance public in a voluntary and transparent way, as a company committed to society. On June 8, in Campo de Gibraltar, and June 10, in Huelva, the company will present the results of its management by presenting the environmental declarations of its refineries and chemical plants, and will establish a permanent communication channel for any doubts.

Thanks to the actions of Fundación Cepsa, natural areas such as Marismas del Odiel and Laguna Primera de Palos (Huelva) and the Madrevieja Environmental Station in San Roque and Arroyo Negro in La Línea (Cadiz) are protected and enhanced. Programs for the protection of species such as the Montagu's harrier and bats are being developed in Jerez de la Frontera. The Hombre y Territorio (HyT) Association, together with Fundación Cepsa, has launched the S.O.S. Caretta project: Fishermen for Biodiversity on the coasts of Cadiz and Huelva, which aims to train and promote the rescue of loggerhead turtles and other endangered species. In the Canary Islands, we are also developing a sea turtle outreach and awareness program under the name SOS Tortugas Marinas and collaborating with the Diario de Avisos Foundation in a research project on the impact of microplastics on the ecosystem of the islands' seabed. These initiatives demonstrate Fundación Cepsa's clear commitment to maintaining and increasing biodiversity in the natural areas where it operates.

In addition, even during the pandemic, environmental awareness actions and workshops have been carried out through the educational programs Energy Campus, for high school students, and World Wetlands Day, a program aimed at children in primary school, as well as other actions in collaboration with public entities in the environmental field.

These initiatives are in addition to the other projects promoted by Cepsa and Fundación Cepsa to protect biodiversity, aligned with the UN's Agenda 2030 through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cepsa's responsibility has led it to join other initiatives and institutions to promote responsible and sustainable business. These include, among others, the Biological Diversity Pact through the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO) and the Biodiversity Foundation, the Responsible Care program of the Spanish Chemical Industry Business Federation (FEIQUE), and becoming a member of Forética, a Spanish non-profit association that aims to promote a culture of ethical and socially responsible management within organizations.