Sustainability at Ørsted

Decarbonisation, biodiversity, and community impact – grounded in strong governance

The global shift to renewable energy is essential for strengthening energy security and independence and for countering climate change, one of the main drivers of global biodiversity loss. With countries continuing to rely on offshore wind and other renewable technologies, the ability to develop, construct, and operate responsibly is becoming a decisive factor for success.
Ørsted’s vision is to create a world powered entirely by green energy, and our strategic aspirations include remaining the undisputed leader in offshore wind and being a globally recognised sustainability leader.  

These aspirations are closely connected: a strong and responsible sustainability approach supports our competitiveness, our licence to operate, and our ability to deliver renewable energy at the scale required across our key regions.

Our three strategic priorities


We integrate sustainability into how we develop, construct, and operate our assets. Our approach focuses on three strategic priorities that guide our work to deliver both renewable energy and broader societal value.
technician on wind turbine
Decarbonisation  We met our target of reducing the intensity of our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 98% from 2006 to 2025 – and are now tackling scope 3 emissions from our sale of gas and our supply chain. All this is helping us execute our roadmap for meeting our SBTi-validated net-zero greenhouse gas emission target by 2040.

Biodiversity 

We are integrating biodiversity protection and restoration management into our projects – aiming to deliver a net-positive impact from 2030, in accordance with our Biodiversity Impact Framework. Carried out via partnerships and pilot projects, our work in this area is also a means of ensuring our access to land and sea.
Three technicians in front of the building

Community impact

It is our position that Ørsted projects should bring jobs and other tangible benefits to the communities where we operate. We want to be a positive force, and we need to be – as we depend on good relations and trust to succeed with our projects.
By addressing these challenges and advancing positive impacts, we aim to help communities decarbonise, protect ecosystems, and secure long-term prosperity and well-being. This is essential for maintaining public support and securing the conditions needed for an effective and resilient renewable energy transition.

Governance and responsible business 

We continue to strengthen our internal organisation so that sustainability is closely linked with business delivery. Strong governance underpins this work and guides our approach to decarbonisation, biodiversity, and community impact.

Our governance framework sets clear responsibilities across all leadership levels – from our Board of Directors, which oversees progress, to the Group Executive Team, where members are accountable for different sustainability-related topics, and on to senior management more broadly. This enables us to act efficiently, respond to evolving expectations, and show how renewable energy can be a force for lasting positive change for people and nature.