3. Environment 3.1.5 Adapting to climate change: strategy and objectives With no region spared from its consequences, global warming is accelerating and causing a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate events. Some of these events are more gradual, altering climatic variables over time, with the underlying trend being an increase in average seasonal temperatures. To allow its teams, activities and infrastructures the best possible preparation, GEODIS carried out an analysis of the exposure to climate change of more than 800 Group sites in 2023, as well as the main key infrastructures for its activities (ports, airports, data centers, etc.), working with the support of external experts. This analysis was carried out according to scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), by 2030 and 2050. These scenarios were selected as they compare the reference situation (average temperatures between 1985 and 2015) with two GHG emission projections: ● the SSP2-4.5 scenario is a business-as-usual trend scenario, in which the level of emissions is in line with nationally determined contributions, and the rate of emissions is not subject to any major variations. It can therefore be considered the most likely scenario. This scenario should lead to an increase in global warming of 1.6 to 2.5°C by mid-century, and 2.1 to 3.5°C by the end of the century; ● the SSP5-8.5 scenario would appear to be likely between now and 2050, as it reflects the failure of mitigation policies and the continuity of primary energy consumption and energy mix trends. In the longer term it appears unlikely, however, as it is “limitless” in terms of the availability of fossil fuels and mineral resources. This scenario should lead to an increase in global warming of 1.9 to 3°C by mid-century, and 3.3 to 5.7°C by the end of the century. This exposure analysis, based on the SSP5-8.5 scenario, shows that 23% of the sites in the study are potentially exposed to extreme risk (45 sites) or high risk (150 sites) by 2030. This corresponds to around 3.5 million sqm and 9,500 jobs. 38% of sites could be exposed to floods exceeding 50 cm. The second risk is exposure to heat, which affects employees’ comfort and health, the resistance and maintenance of equipment, and the need for energy to cool down sites requiring controlled temperatures for their activities. These hazards can potentially damage goods stored in warehouses, depending on their nature. In terms of trends between 2023 and 2030, the risks that will probably increase the most are landslides and heat waves. The 45 sites at extreme risk are mostly located in the USA and Asia. GEODIS’s activities are highly subject to the impacts of climate change: our strong geographic footprint in the United States partly explains this high level of exposure, as it is a region that is particularly affected by the effects of climate change. Measures to prevent and adapt to current risks have already been put in place. Among them are building standards, the layout of facilities, emergency response and critical event management systems, the working environment and the pace of work, as well as business continuity plans to serve the Group’s customers. Further vulnerability analyses will be carried out from 2024 onwards at the most exposed sites. Depending on the risk assessment, additional adaptation plans will be defined to deal with any possible increase in the frequency or intensity of these risks. Climate change adaptation is included in the mapping of the Group’s major risks and, as such, is part of the Group’s Risk Committee. In 2024, adaptation to climate change will also be included in the criteria used by Investment Committees to evaluate projects. 3.2 Air quality In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that outdoor air pollution is a certain cause of cancer for humans. Air pollutants, especially PM10 particles, are a major threat to public health. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), fine particle pollution was responsible for 238,000 premature deaths in Europe in 2020(1), half of which are attributed to emissions from global road traffic (transportation of passengers and goods, private vehicles). In order to improve air quality and protect people’s health by limiting pollution emitted by vehicles (carbon monoxide and particulate matter), many European countries have undertaken to set up Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in large cities (more than 300 European cities in 2023). The operation of LEZs is generally based on a certificate that each vehicle must have, according to its polluting emissions. Securing access to city centers has therefore become a major challenge for the freight transport sector. The expansion of LEZs is an incentive for logistics companies to accelerate the energy transition of their vehicle fleets (motorization complying with the latest norms on the market and use of alternative fuels). In this context, GEODIS is focused on limiting the impact of its activities on air quality and public health. The Group is developing a competitive low-carbon delivery service adapted to environmental challenges in city centers (pollution, noise, traffic congestion, etc.). As an operator of last-mile deliveries within cities, GEODIS is adapting to regulatory and societal changes by working on solutions that meet a dual challenge. (1) https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/premature-deaths-due-air-pollution 50 - 2023 ACTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
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