Can you talk about you or your company’s efforts relating to renewability, sustainability or other environmentally-friendly activities?

Clean energy and sustainable solutions are at the heart of Berkeley Energy’s business and decision making. We recognise the importance that clean energy plays in the global focus on energy, the commitments to transition to net-zero, and the developmental goals and ambitions of both emerging and developed economies. We are proud to play our small but important role in supporting those goals and ambitions.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations form all that we do. This applies to our decision and strategy making, attracting and managing investment and talent, identifying and delivering projects, building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, and leaving a responsible legacy for the future.

We could not do this across so many diverse geographies, technologies and projects without our dedicated, passionate and committed Environmental and Social (E&S) team. They drive real impact on the ground and create positive social, environmental and economic outcomes for our employees, communities and countries in which we operate. Sound E&S management is crucial in our risk management approach to sustainable and responsible investments. This is enshrined in our Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and our E&S policy. Our ESMS is based on the accumulated experiences of the organisation, the nature of investments, internationally recognised standards and is subject to continuous review and improvement as E&S risks and factors evolve.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?

Whilst ESG needs to be an integral part of strategy at the business level, in-house lawyers are well placed to understand and support an ESG framework and governance structure. ESG integration requires a thorough assessment, agreed principles, commitment and a robust risk management approach. The analytical and systematic skills needed to be a lawyer are helpful in the assessment of sector-relevant ESG requirements and the support of an appropriate E&S system for management and reporting. Staying up to date and advising on the ever-changing legal and regulatory requirements surrounding E&S benefits from the in-house lawyer’s skill set as well.

The legal team at Berkeley Energy plays an essential role in supporting the business and the E&S team in its strategy, risk management approach, reporting and accountability. With a commitment to good and effective corporate governance consistent with its corporate values, Berkeley Energy’s legal team delivers across all aspects. The ‘G’ in ESG is not often at the forefront of everyone’s minds, but it is fundamental in underpinning the E&S approach and complying with legal requirements.