Sustainability Committee

The IDAEA Sustainability Committee was established in 2020 through an initiative led by the Institute’s staff, within the framework of the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation. Its mission is to promote environmental sustainability across the Institute and integrate sustainable practices into its daily activities, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Its first action plan focused on six priority areas: carbon neutrality, buildings, recycling, travel, education, and water. Following the approval of the CSIC Sustainability Plan 2024–2026, the Committee has aligned its work with the ten strategic action areas established by CSIC, strengthening the coherence of its initiatives with the institution’s sustainability strategy.

Ámbitos de actuación

Since its creation, the Committee has promoted more than 70 initiatives organised around the following ten action areas:

L1. Buildings

Improve energy efficiency, optimise water consumption, and advance towards more sustainable facilities.

L2. Information and Communication Technologies

Promote a more efficient and sustainable use of digital and computational resources.

L3. Daily Mobility

Encourage more sustainable commuting options to reduce the environmental footprint associated with staff travel to and from the Institute.

L4. Business Travel

Promote more responsible professional travel through carbon footprint assessment, awareness-raising, and the adoption of more sustainable travel alternatives.

L5. Diversity and Inclusion

Foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable working environment, support the professional development of technical staff, and encourage the recruitment of early-career talent.

IDAEA also has a Gender Equality Committee, active since 2019, which develops specific initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

L6. Accessibility

Improve the physical and digital accessibility of the Institute to ensure a more inclusive environment.

L7. Procurement

Integrate environmental and social criteria into the procurement of goods, services, and suppliers.

L8. Food

Promote healthier and more sustainable food choices during Institute activities and within its facilities.

L9. Waste

Reduce waste generation and improve waste separation, collection, and recycling practices.

L10. Awareness and Engagement

Encourage the adoption of sustainable practices among Institute staff and bring sustainability closer to society through outreach and public engagement activities.