Summary
This paper will discuss TAQA company’s implementation of their Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) in their operation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Sidenote, the United Nations adopted 17 SDGs to attain sustainability for all (UN, 2022). TAQA is an international water and energy corporation that operates across 11 countries on four continents. TAQA deals in the main Line of Business in the storage and production of gas and oil, water desalination, and power generation (TAQA, 2022). The Abu Dhabi government controls the operations of TAQA, which supplies over 90% of water and power in this emirate (TAQA, 2022).
The total net operating power production capacity of TAQA’s is 23 gigawatts, comprising renewable energy and desalination plants. This company owns 14 assets in the UAE, which are independent power and water plants (TAQA, 2020). TAQA aims to improve the use of energy resources, concentrate on demand-side management, and decarbonize power and water supply (TAQA, 2021). The SDGs that TAQA is working towards include good health and well-being, climate action, as well as sustainable cities and communities that are planned to be achieved within the next decade.
Good Health and Well-Being
The SDG of good Health and well-being is the most prioritized goal in TAQA. Since people are their greatest assets, improving their safety and health is an important feature that the company is committed to improving its operational excellence as they provide its products and services (TAQA, 2021). TAQA has strategically partnered with institutions like ESS Support Services (ESS) to achieve this SDG of delivering good health and well-being. As it was featured by Hospitality and Catering News (2013), ESS, an Aberdeen-based company, would provide training and education courses on their health and the environment to TAQA’s offshore workers. This training focuses on integrating and implementing natural resource management practices and prioritizing their cooperation towards improving the development of their future.
Failure to reach this goal of providing good health and well-being will mean that TAQA faces different challenges as it considers employing a workforce to complete activities within its operation. This initiative by the company to partner with healthcare organizations is a critical feature assisting the company work towards its goals. ESS works collaboratively with TAQA’s Cognitive Health team to develop a program to teach hundreds of employees how to maintain a healthy lifestyle offshore. ESS offers catering, lodging, and well-being operations across all four TAQA platforms (Hospitality and Catering News, 2013). Different training sessions on energy balance, health, and nutrition are part of this program (TAQA, 2020). During these sessions, workers learn entrepreneurial skills to enhance their innovativeness and contribution to the company’s operation.
Climate Action
The SDG goal of climate action is equally essential to TAQA. Indeed, the company aims to improve people’s living conditions and survival rates within its operational environment to effectively operate its business (Magyar et al., 2020). The status of implementation for TAQA’s progress toward achieving this SDG is their intention that by 2030, the group portfolio’s greenhouse gas emissions will be predictably 25% lower than they were in 2019 (Ghilotti, 2022). TAQA recently issued a $3.8 billion contract and fellow countryman Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to implement the Lightning project (Ghilotti, 2022). This project aims to reduce carbon emissions at the state-owned company’s offshore oil and gas installations using undersea power transmission networks.
The implementation of the SDG on climate action is facing various challenges. Scarce resources and natural challenges like storms, rising sea levels, intense droughts, and warming oceans are only some of these difficulties (Magyar et al., 2020). TAQA’s failure to achieve this goal will indicate that carbon emissions from their operation intoxicate the environment, resulting in global warming effects that may have tremendous adverse effects on human health (Nunez, 2019). The company’s initiative aims to reduce toxic wastes to improve the environment’s health. As announced in the Arab News, TAQA intends to cut its carbon emissions by 25% by building 9 gigawatts of solar power and closing 7 gigawatts of compressed gas facilities during this decade (Abdelaziz, 2022). Considering the global community’s rising energy crisis and climate change concerns, this corporation’s attempts are more than understandable.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
TAQA is working towards the SDG of developing sustainable cities and communities with power service and a thriving future. It provides reliable and sustainable water and energy in Abu Dhabi to encourage people to unleash their potential and perform better in the city (TAQA, 2020). Achieving this goal is essential to the company because the possible impact that is failing to achieve it would result in a crumbled city with unhealthy individuals who cannot offer helpful service to the community. Alisa Charles elaborated on this specific SDG of TAQA on the About Smart Cities website. According to Charles (2021), TAQA’s sustainability program improves the growth of the cities by providing environment-friendly products that are good for people. Overall, having green metropolitan areas is crucial not only for citizens’ health but also for the economy.
Experience and Future Plans
The company has plans to continue with its explorations in meeting its SDGs with innovative contributions that would be helpful. According to TAQA (2021), the company plans to become the leader in clean water and energy provider as well as to develop human capital for achieving SDGs. Action towards climate change, improving people’s mental and physical health, providing affordable and clean energy, and creating sustainable cities and communities can improve its operations and increase chances for future success (TAQA, 2021). The main challenge in this situation is that TAQA can only control its initiatives, but the emission of greenhouse gases is a global problem. At the same time, this firm can set a positive example for other corporations to join this sustainability quest by attaining small wins in terms of SDGs.
Analysis
These projects by TAQA are highly effective for the good of their future operations within their environments. Improving climate conditions is possible by cutting carbon emissions and developing the area of solar power. Reducing the consideration of gas facilities are essential projects that can significantly influence the accomplishment of these SDGs. The company could also consider recycling its products and encouraging implementing competitive strategies to improve its employees’ creativity. Recycling by-products can allow the company to minimize the wastage of its resources and improve the environmental conditions, facilitating its progress towards achieving the SDG of improving the health and well-being of the people.
Reflection
I have learned from this situation that various approaches can be used to achieve different SDGs. For example, a company can partner with other organizations to educate employees about the importance of their health and the environment. Carbon emissions have a dangerous impact on the environment, but strategically partnering with health education companies to teach Employees within the organization, the importance of health and that of the environment can improve the tolerance of this challenge by allowing an advanced approach to tackling it. One thing I would do to help is to enhance the distribution of important information about SDGs to the public in order to improve the understanding of how we can work together to ameliorate our living conditions now and in the future.
References
Abdelaziz, D. (2022). UAE in-focus — TAQA to cut 25% of carbon emissions; Yellow door energy concludes $400m equity transaction. Arab News. Web.
Charles, A. (2021). TAQA’s 2030 strategy for sustainable growth. About Smart Cities. Web.
Ghilotti, D. (2022). UAE’s TAQA targets 25% cut in emissions by 2030. Upstream Online. Web.
Hospitality and Catering News. (2013). ESS launches a platform with TAQA to improve health of offshore workers. Web.
Magyar, J., Rexin, O., & Galer, S. (2020). TAQA selects SAP to meet energy challenges. SAP News Center. Web.
Nunez, C. (2019). Greenhouse gases, facts, and information. National Geographic. Web.
TAQA. (2020). Strategy direction for the new TAQA. Web.
TAQA. (2021). TAQA group unveils 2030sStrategy for sustainable and profitable growth – TAQA. Web.
TAQA. (2022). Annual report of 2021. Web.
UN. (2022). Envision2030: 17 goals to transform the world for persons with disabilities. Web.