Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Sustainability
• Opportunity
• Mobility

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced site-wide energy consumption by 47.3%
• Reduced 2018 carbon footprint by 7% (44,600 tonnes of CO2e) compared to a business-as-usual scenario.
• Recycled or reused 88.01% of waste during construction.
• 95% of landscape area managed without chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
• 100% of non-potable exterior water uses met by treated sewage effluent (TSE).

Social Achievements

• Awarded 1,277 contracts to SMEs (20% of total contract value).
• Engaged with over 700 schools and 50,000 students through the Expo School Programme.
• Funded 70 global innovators from 42 countries through Expo Live.
• Implemented an employee integration program and various wellness initiatives.
• Hosted the inaugural Better Together Awards, celebrating worker welfare.

Governance Achievements

• Established a robust governance framework aligned with international obligations and UAE regulations.
• Implemented a Worker Welfare Assurance Standard across the supply chain.
• Published a sustainability report in accordance with GRI Standards.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Minimising the environmental impact of a large-scale construction project in an arid desert environment.
• Managing waste generation during construction and operations.
• Ensuring worker welfare and safety for a large workforce.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implemented a comprehensive sustainability strategy with KPIs.
• Developed a hierarchical waste management strategy with a focus on reduction, reuse, and recycling.
• Established a Worker Welfare Assurance Standard and various worker-centric initiatives.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Sustainable Materials Guidelines
• Vendors’ Code of Conduct
• 20% of contract value from SMEs (contracts over AED 125 million)

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option

Certifications: LEED Gold Certification (target for buildings), CEEQUAL Excellent Certification (target for infrastructure)

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 3
• Goal 4
• Goal 5
• Goal 6
• Goal 7
• Goal 8
• Goal 9
• Goal 10
• Goal 12
• Goal 13
• Goal 14
• Goal 15
• Goal 16
• Goal 17

Various initiatives aligned with the SDGs, including health and safety, gender equality, education, water conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and stakeholder engagement.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Energy
• Transport
• Ecology
• Water
• Materials
• Waste
• Sustainability Awareness
• Public Realm
• Sustainability Certification
• Carbon
• Sustainable Operations and Reporting

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced energy demand in buildings by 30.1% in comparison to international standards
• Recycled water used for 100% of non-potable applications
• 92% of waste segregated into different waste streams during construction
• 80% of total waste generated recycled or reused
• Achieved 52.4% water reduction from all permanent buildings
• 84.1% of materials used in permanent construction retained for the Legacy phase
• 89.2% of selected materials procured in accordance with Sustainable Materials Guidelines

Social Achievements

• Launched Expo School Programme, engaging with UAE students on sustainability
• Launched ‘2020 Hours of Code’ initiative, providing coding tutorials to UAE students
• Launched Expo Live, funding innovators tackling global challenges
• Hosted the 4th annual International Participants Meeting
• Organized Expo Volunteers Celebration, thanking volunteers for their support
• Implemented Worker Welfare Policy and Assurance Standard
• Launched Cyber Smart Programme to enhance cybersecurity practices
• Organized Accessibility and Inclusion week
• Launched various community engagement initiatives (Ramadan initiative, Expo ice cream van, ‘The World’s Greatest Show in the Making Tour’)

Governance Achievements

• Established RISE Guidelines for Sustainable Operations
• Implemented a zero tolerance approach to any malpractice or fraudulent act
• Established a Whistleblowing Policy
• Implemented an Observe, Engage, Improve (OEI) process
• Implemented a robust health and safety management system
• Launched The Better Together Awards 2019 to recognize successes in HSQE and Worker Welfare

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Lack of uniformity in health and safety legislations
• Challenges in investigation of health and safety incidents
• Challenges in legal systems and accountability for frontline workers
• Challenges in benchmarking of health and safety incidents and data
• Challenges in reporting of near-misses and minor injury incidents

Mitigation Strategies

• Implemented robust health and safety management system with internal and external audits
• Developed and implemented an integrated strategy and policy for Health, Safety, Quality and Environment (HSQE)
• Implemented an Observe, Engage, Improve (OEI) process
• Established a confidential hotline and a “Worker Connect” mobile application

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: At least twice annually (internal); 13 HSE audits of Supervision Consultants (external)

Responsible Procurement

• Sustainable Materials Guidelines
• RISE Guidelines for Sustainable Operations
• SME Engagement Policy
• Conflict of Interest document

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option

Certifications: LEED Gold (target for all permanent buildings), CEEQUAL Excellent Certification (target for all permanent infrastructure)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
• Goal 5 (Gender Equality)
• Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
• Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
• Goal 13 (Climate Action)
• Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
• Goal 14 (Life Below Water)
• Goal 15 (Life On Land)

Expo 2020 initiatives align with various SDGs through its sustainability strategy, community engagement, and worker welfare programs.

Awards & Recognition

• Best Cross-Functional Team and Young Procurement Professional of the Year at the CIPS Middle East Conference and Supply Management Awards 2020

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced water demand in buildings by 53% compared to local standards
• 90% of landscape plants are native and adaptive species
• 90% of landscape area is managed without chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers
• 91% of waste diverted from landfill
• On track for all permanent Expo buildings to achieve LEED Gold certification and eight infrastructure projects to achieve CEEQUAL Excellent certification

Social Achievements

• Launched Expo School Programme with various online and in-person initiatives engaging thousands of students
• Launched Expo Talks series with over 90 hours of content and 120+ participants
• Rolled out a comprehensive vaccination programme for all employees and their families
• Implemented various worker welfare initiatives, including a 24/7 hotline and monthly campaigns

Governance Achievements

• Implemented a zero-tolerance approach to corruption with no reported incidents
• Established a robust Worker Welfare Policy and Assurance Standards
• Published its first Human Rights Policy and Statement

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• COVID-19 pandemic causing disruptions to construction, operations, and stakeholder engagement
• Supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic

Mitigation Strategies

• Postponed the event by one year
• Implemented comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines and protocols
• Developed an economic support plan and vaccination programme
• Leveraged digital platforms for stakeholder engagement and operations

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 170 compliance audits, prequalification audits, and risk assessment audits in 2020 Q1; 50 in 2021 Q1

Responsible Procurement

• Sustainable Materials Guidelines
• RISE Guidelines for Sustainable Operations
• Worker Welfare Policy
• eSourcing platform

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards: Core option

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3
• SDG 4
• SDG 5
• SDG 6
• SDG 7
• SDG 8
• SDG 9
• SDG 10
• SDG 11
• SDG 12
• SDG 13
• SDG 14
• SDG 15
• SDG 17

Expo 2020 initiatives and programmes align with various SDG targets, as detailed in the report's SDG disclosure section.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Products from Paper Pulp Moulding Facility

Awards & Recognition

• Six CIPS Middle East Conference and Supply Management Awards