In order to facilitate disclosure of the company’s performance, in 2008 Abengoa drew up and implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting system that seeks to render reliable consolidated data on relevant quantitative and qualitative indicators pertaining to CSR so that they may be suitably managed and made known to company stakeholders. 

 Information reliability requires systematic consistency in the consolidated data, which must be traceable or reconstructible, accurate and complete in identifying and taking all relevant data sources into consideration. Accordingly, Abengoa has effective internal control mechanisms in place to help prevent, detect and rectify significant errors in the data disclosed. All information systems from which the indicators included in this report were obtained underwent rigorous processes of internal and external control, supervision and auditing.

The firm PwC, as an independent external verifier, audited the report in order to verify correct implementation of the AA1000 Assurance Standard (2008) and version 3 of the Global Reporting Initiative Guide (GRI G3), in accordance with Level A requirements. The methodology followed for the review process was defined according to the stipulations of the ISAE 3000 (International Standard for Assurance Engagements other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information).
 

The audit was conducted with a reasonable degree of assurance for all of the principal and additional GRI-G3 indicators. Sufficient proof was obtained to reduce the risk of material error to an acceptably low level. The corresponding verification report ¹ outlines the scope of the work conducted, as well as the conclusions reached.
 

Application of the principles of the AccountAbility AA1000APS (2008) standard was likewise verified, rendering high assurance in accordance with Type-2 assurance requirements².
 

In similar fashion, PwC reviewed how well the Corporate Social Responsibility Management System in place at Abengoa reflects the guidance and recommendations contained within the ISO 26000:2010 international standard.
 

The report was also reviewed by the Global Reporting Initiative and by Abengoa management, and received a grade of A+.

 

¹ See chapter titled Verification Reports

² The assurance provider evaluates the scope and nature of the Accountability AA1000 principles and the reliability of specific information pertaining to sustainability performance