ESG TOPIC DEFINITIONS
CATEGORY
TOPIC
DEFINITION
Cybersecurity, Privacy and Digitization
The protection of data and information, often involving protection against hackers or cyber criminals. Privacy involves an individual’s right to manage their personal information, and security is the protection of this information. The framework for ensuring an organization conforms to applicable laws, policies, and procedures, both at the legal and organization level, and that an organization and its employees act and make choices with integrity.
Ethics and Compliance
Long-term Monitoring and Maintenance
The long-term protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures of existing infrastructure.
Air Pollutants
The physical, chemical, biological, radioactive (including source material, special nuclear material, and byproduct material) substances or matter that are emitted into or otherwise enters the ambient air. For the MDTA, the main source is likely construction activities and roadways.
Biodiversity and Ecosystems The variety of ecosystems (natural capital) and species in a particular habitat. Ecosystems are essential to human well-being because they deliver services that sustain our economies and societies. For the MDTA, this includes biodiversity and ecosystems in vegetated areas near roads, facilities, and the organization’s effect on these. Climate Resilience and Adaptation The ability to make changes in processes, practices, and structures to moderate potential damages from hazards and stresses, including risks associated with climate change (both physical and transition). For the MDTA, this means maintaining resiliency to the impacts of extreme weather events and climate change as well as transition risks. Energy and Renewables The measurement of energy consumption and implementation of initiatives to increase energy efficiency and decrease the use of fossil fuels. The energy resources derived from fossil fuels – such as coal and oil and gas – are non-renewable. The energy resources derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed are renewable. For the MDTA, this means energy and renewables associated with the agency’s fleet and operations.
The concept that everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, has the right to the same environmental protections and benefits, as well as meaningful involvement in the environmental policies that shape their communities. For the MDTA, this involves identifying and addressing any disproportionate adverse effects of the agency’s programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. The gases in the earth’s atmosphere originating from human activities that trap heat and raise the temperature of the planet’s surface. The MDTA’s emissions mainly come from operations, services, and construction of roadways. The concept of how land and resources are managed and utilized, including critical dependencies and impacts for the MDTA’s operations, construction, and users. For the MDTA, this involves the agency’s land use and management practices. The propagation of unwanted or excessive sound/light and/or physical oscillations with the potential to negatively affect human health and activity or animal life. For the MDTA, this involves the noise, light, and/or vibration pollution coming from construction activities and roadways. The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated, decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. For the MDTA, this involves strategies and policies aimed at minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency. The quantities of water withdrawn, used, and discharged; practices to conserve water; consideration of water sources that could be impacted by withdrawal or discharge; and potential water quality concerns. For the MDTA, this likely means water management and use in operations and construction. The ability of individuals to access and utilize products and services. For the MDTA, this involves the accessibility of roadways and facilities for those who need to use the MDTA’s infrastructure. The MDTA’s customers and community are one and the same; as a public agency, the MDTA seeks to serve its community. As a result, engagement with users of toll roads and facilities, as well as initiatives undertaken for the purpose of improving customer welfare, also serve to engage the MDTA’s community. The policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals. DEI encompasses people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures, and sexual orientations. It also includes people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills, and expertise. For the MDTA, this means maintaining fair working practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Environmental Justice
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Land Use and Natural Resources
Noise, Light, and Vibration Pollution
Waste and Circularity
Water
Accessibility
Customer and Community Engagement
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Employee Engagement, Development, and Wellbeing
The practices in place to provide consultation and engagement with employees to understand their opinions on critical issues, enhance employee development, increase employee satisfaction, and influence retention rates and overall productivity.
The policies and measures in place to ensure harm prevention, including the promotion of physical health, mental, and emotional well-being of employees and contractors. This includes reporting on injury rates and work-related fatalities. The policies and measures in place to prioritize and maintain customer and community health, safety, and well-being. This includes consideration for the wellness of external stakeholders at all stages of the project lifecycle. For the MDTA, this involves ensuring the safety of roads and facilities for travelers, as well as the safety of construction and other activities for customers and surrounding communities. The procurement of contractors and vendors, materials, goods, utilities, and services with positive environmental or social benefits. For the MDTA, this involves review and auditing of a supply chain to ensure vendors, contractors, and subcontractors are socially conscious, environmentally sustainable, and follow good governance/compliance measures.
Employee Health and Safety
Public Safety
Sustainable Supply Chain
7 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report
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