Biodiversity

Biodiversity targets

Fortum’s three main biodiversity targets

Aquatic

• Increase the ecological value in river stretches where actions have the most ecological benefit, by 2040

Terrestrial

• Achieve a net positive biodiversity impact on land use for our own operations from 2030 onwards
• No increase in land use negative impact on biodiversity from procured biomass in existing operations compared to 2024 levels

Our first biodiversity transition plan

Our transition plan outlines how Fortum manages its impacts on nature and how it contributes to the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The transition plan introduces our current impacts on biodiversity, our biodiversity targets and the key actions to deliver on those targets as well as frameworks used to execute on those targets. ​

While biodiversity loss is caused through different pressures, including climate change, the transition plan focuses on impacts that directly impact aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Our actions on climate change are addressed in our climate transition plan.

Our transition plan applies to both Fortum’s own operations and supply chain. The transition plan will be updated over time, and progress on delivering on the targets will be reported annually as part of the annual sustainability report. ​We will continue to work with local communities, NGOs, and regulators to ensure meaningful participation and long-term positive impacts on biodiversity.

Terrestrial impacts

Terrestrial impacts are identified with a Biodiversity Footprint Assessment (BFA, by Global Biodiversity Score^® Tool). Fortum has updated its BFA for 2024, which is published for the first time. According to the BFA, the majority of Fortum’s impact on terrestrial biodiversity comes from GHG emissions, especially in the supply chains that have an impact on biodiversity loss through climate change pressure. This impact is tackled by reducing emissions in line with the climate transition plan based on Fortum’s SBTi-validated near- and long-term emissions reduction targets to be net zero by 2040. Other terrestrial impacts are related to land use pressure, both in Fortum’s own operations and its supply chain, for which Fortum has outlined concrete actions in the biodiversity transition plan.

Aquatic impacts

Hydropower production alters the fluctuation range and rhythm of the water discharge and level in waterways. The damming of rivers has a barrier effect and causes a discontinuation in the natural flow of rivers. This causes negative impacts, e.g., on the migration and drifting of fish and of other fauna and ecological substances; some of the impacted species are threatened. This also has a negative impact on natural habitats, e.g., breeding grounds for migratory fishes, ecosystems as a whole, erosion, and flora and fauna. Impacts may occur in the rivers and also in the riparian zone.