The appropriate energy solutions for the different markets in which EDP operates require a simultaneous response to a number of challenges:

• Market liberalization in the context of increasingly globalized, competitive, and regulated economies;
• Worldwide growing energy demand and the ensuing need for innovation and optimized resource management;
• Greater scrutiny from society regarding social and environmental management;
• The need to reduce the company's ecological footprint and to cooperate in fighting both climate change and biodiversity loss around the world;
• The need to strengthen the trust of various stakeholders in corporate governance systems.

In order to meet these challenges, EDP has established a set of sustainable development principles to be applied in different areas:

1. Economic and social value

• To continuously create value for shareholders. 
• To improve resource use efficiency and reduce risk exposure.
• To improve the company's competitiveness, in particular by providing top-notch services and anticipating customer expectations and needs.
• To integrate environmental and social aspects into planning and decision-making processes.
• To contribute to improving the quality of life of local communities.

2. Eco-efficiency and environmental protection

• To promote the use of renewable energy sources and of cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.
• To improve consumers' energy efficiency.
• To manage the impact of the company's activities by seeking a positive environmental balance.
• To actively contribute to environmental and biodiversity conservation.
• To improve environmental management practices across the value chain. 

3. Innovation

• To promote innovation and creativity while seeking new market opportunities and process improvements. 
• To implement collaborative practices in all design, production and service delivery stages. 
• To support energy-related research, technological development and knowledge management.

4. Integrity and good governance

• To comply with legal requirements and ethical/deontological standards.
• To respect and promote human rights in our sphere of influence.
• To ensure participatory, competent and ethical governance practices.

5. Transparency and dialogue

• To ensure an open and trustful relationship with all stakeholders.
• To create communication channels for all stakeholders and to take their contributions and expectations into account.
• To report the company's economic, environmental and social performance in a transparent and objective way.

6. People & diversity

• To promote integrity, rigor, individual responsibility and teamwork while encouraging diversity.
• To promote the development of employees' skills and to recognize excellence and merit.
• To improve the health, safety and well-being of all employees.
• To reject abusive and discriminatory practices, ensuring equal opportunities.
• To promote employee satisfaction and motivation.

7. Energy access

• To promote access to quality energy in a reliable and safe way.
• To adapt the company's commercial policies to each market's social specificities.
• To ensure equal access to energy and energy systems.

8. Social development and citizenship

• To promote social innovation while maximizing the activity's positive social impact.
• To support social and cultural initiatives based on transparent evaluation criteria focusing on the social return of invested resources.
• To cooperate in the development of sustainable societies.