3538 Energy retail station sites green guide: opportunities to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Overview:

The energy and fuel retail sector is one of many industries expected to undergo considerable disruption in the next decade to meet the emerging challenges of climate change and the pressure to improve sustainability from both governance and clients. Owners and operators will need to understand the potential impact of their facilities on the environment and opportunities for improving their future asset resilience.

This guide is intended to serve as a practical – and where possible future-proofed – document for all stakeholders involved in energy and fuel retail. It has been written to address the specific needs and considerations involved with retail site operation to help stakeholders determine the decisions that will have the greatest positive impact for their sites.

Embedding measurable targets identified within the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), alongside guidance highlights where industry-specific design, construction or operational decisions support the UN SDGs at any stage during the asset lifecycle, whether applied to development of a new site or redevelopment of an existing asset.

The UN SDGs include a wide range of measurable targets related to all aspects of sustainability – from contamination and effects on soil-water-sediment systems, emissions and direct environmental impact to social factors and safety. Specific examples of changes and innovation are embedded throughout to show actions that can be implemented to directly affect sustainability goals throughout the asset lifecycle.

Annex A provides a clear reference for targeting changes at any stage in the lifecycle and examples of improvements that can be made at key trigger points to contribute to specific sustainable development targets and improve industry-wide sustainability at all stages.