The events of 2020 – COVID-19, historic wildfires, record heat waves, social justice protests – not only dramatically changed how we live and do our work, but they have also strengthened our resolve to work together on the challenges we face.
With a focus on resiliency, SDG&E has developed a comprehensive sustainability strategy to help address many of the threats brought on by climate change. Each one of us plays a role in sustaining the other by championing people — employees, customers, suppliers and others.
‘Outside In’ Community Outreach
Each year, we aim to actively engage a growing network of community-based, nonprofit stakeholders that provide continuous constructive feedback while partnering with us through sustainability initiatives to meet the needs of diverse, underserved and disadvantaged communities. Our company is committed to facilitating a just and equitable transition to a clean energy economy, so vulnerable populations who are disproportionately impacted by climate change are not left behind.
Creating Opportunities through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Actions
We are dedicated to diversity and strive to reflect the communities in which we serve. This is prevalent in our diversity supplier ambassador roles, Local Diversity and Inclusions Councils (LDICs) and “Lean-in Circles.” Diversity supplier ambassadors seek to identify opportunities to expand the diversity of suppliers in contract bids and mentor them to help ensure they remain competitive and can grow their businesses.
LDICs help employees understand and appreciate workplace diversity. These “circles” seek to move beyond simple tolerance to embrace and leverage the many-layered dimensions of diversity and inclusion — all of which coincide with the advancement of our sustainability goals.
And our “Lean-In Circles” were established to help women achieve their ambitions. Its members include women of all ages, backgrounds and positions at SDG&E, offering each one the opportunity to help shape a world free of gender bias.
Starting in 2020:
We are advancing our commitment to engage, act, measure and report our performance related to Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) with greater transparency and urgency.
We are emphasizing five key pillars to track progress:
1. Leading from the top;
2. Accelerating employee engagement;
3. Creating opportunity;
4. Driving conscious inclusion;
5. Partnering with the communities we serve.
Sustainable Supply Chain
We realize that now, more than ever, there is a pressing need to incorporate environmentally sound choices into supply-chain management. Aside from sustainability and overall strength, we place integrating this as a high priority – ensuring corporate social responsibility and aligning with our company’s core values.
By 2025, we aim to:
- Develop an energy-industry leading supply chain sustainability program.
“The events of 2020 have highlighted deep divisions, inequalities and inequities throughout society,” said Estela de Llanos, Vice President of Clean Transportation, Sustainability and Chief Environmental Officer at SDG&E. “As we look to accelerate the transition to more renewable and zero-carbon resources, integrate technology and innovate, we must aspire to do so in a way that maximizes value and leaves no one behind.”
While we still have more work to do, we are proud to share additional examples of how we put our employees first! To learn more about our aspirational goals, please visit sdge.com/sustainability.