It’s our long-held view that growing energy demand fundamentals mean all forms of energy are going to be needed for decades to come. Enbridge’s diversified business mix is ideally positioned to be able to meet this growing demand in all of those areas—oil and natural gas, lower-carbon opportunities and renewable power.
Q&A with our CSO and Sustainability Committee Chair
Q (Susan): Where do you see Enbridge making strides when it comes to addressing emissions from our operations? And what challenges remain ahead?
A (Pete): We believe natural gas will play a foundational role in the global energy mix for quite some time. Natural gas is a reliable and cost-effective substitute for more carbon-intensive fuels and, as an enabler for intermittent and renewable power, natural gas is helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions across North America and globally.
Natural gas is primarily methane—a greenhouse gas with potent global warming potential when released into the atmosphere. We continue efforts across our gas transmission and distribution businesses to avoid and address methane emissions. After all, we get paid to move natural gas, not to lose it. And by focusing our attention on the largest sources of methane emissions throughout our system, we’re seeing results.
While we had reduced our methane emissions significantly leading up to 2024, the road ahead is not without its challenges. Integrating the U.S. gas utilities into our portfolio provides a new opportunity to leverage best management practices and find the most prudent and effective solutions to avoiding and reducing emissions across these new assets and operations. I have confidence our teams are up to the task.
Q (Pete): The Board continues to champion Enbridge’s reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples across Canada and the United States. When you look back on 2024, what stands out with respect to our journey?
A (Susan): As shared in Enbridge’s recent update to its Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan, the journey continues. When I reflect on this past year, there are several examples that give me a sense of pride and confidence in the path Enbridge is on. A few specific areas of progress from 2024 include:
- Enbridge announced plans to build a 200-megawatt wind energy project in Saskatchewan in partnership with six First Nations and Métis communities. In this Seven Stars Energy Project, Indigenous partners will have the opportunity, collectively, to acquire at least 30% equity ownership.
- Significant progress was made towards Indigenous procurement across Enbridge, with a spend of $837 million at the end 2024, for a total of $2.7 billion since 2012.
- Over the past two years, the Company provided more than $41 million to Indigenous groups across North America to build community capacity, and support well-being and initiatives that honor Indigenous Peoples and cultures.
- This year’s Sustainability Report marks the third year of reporting against the commitments made in Enbridge’s inaugural Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan. By the end of 2024, the Company had achieved 12 of the original 22 commitments, five of which were achieved and integrated into corporate practices, and seven of which were achieved and are ongoing. To further advance truth and reconciliation, Enbridge also published an update to the Indigenous Reconciliation Plan, including setting three new commitments and acknowledging injustices Indigenous groups have historically faced, including the lack of inclusion in our collective historical activities and the impacts on cultures, languages and socio-economic well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
“Many of our investors and stakeholders continue to express interest in how we’re managing non-financial risks (and opportunities) relevant to our business . . . for more than two decades, we’ve provided an annual update on areas of focus across our business including our impact on the environment, the communities in which we operate and our role in society. At Enbridge, we’re continuing to advance our strategic priorities, including our approach to sustainability.”
—Enbridge’s Pete Sheffield, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President External Affairs, and Susan Cunningham, Chair, Sustainability Committee
Q (Susan): With sentiment on ESG changing, how does Enbridge view the path forward for sustainability?
A (Pete): Many of our investors and stakeholders continue to express interest in how we’re managing non-financial risks (and opportunities) relevant to our business, and the surrounding governance frameworks.
For more than two decades, we’ve provided an annual update on areas of focus across our business including our impact on the environment, the communities in which we operate and our role in society.
At Enbridge, we’re continuing to advance our strategic priorities, including our approach to sustainability. How well we perform as a steward of our environment, as a safe operator of essential energy infrastructure, as an employer of choice, and as a responsible corporate citizen is inextricably linked to our ability to achieve our strategic priorities and adapt to a changing world.
Pete Sheffield
Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President, External Affairs
Susan M. Cunningham
Chair, Sustainability Committee
