Meridian named among world’s most sustainable companies

Meridian Energy has been included in S&P Global’s Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index, placing it among the top 10% of utilities globally for sustainability performance.

The company is the only New Zealand organisation to achieve the ranking, which is based on S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment covering governance, risk management and environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

Meridian sustainability general manager Claire Shaw says the recognition reflects the growing importance of transparency and resilience in the energy sector.

“This recognition is about credibility,” Shaw says.

“In a volatile global environment, investors, governments and customers expect energy companies to be transparent, well governed and focused on long-term outcomes. Being assessed in the top 10% globally shows Meridian stands up to that level of scrutiny.”

The index is widely regarded as a benchmark for corporate sustainability, assessing how organisations manage climate risk, operational resilience and reporting standards.

Shaw says independent assessments are increasingly important as scrutiny of sustainability claims intensifies.

“People are skeptical of sustainability claims. That’s why independent benchmarks like this matter. They show how a company actually performs – how it navigates risk, reports openly, and manages the resources entrusted to it,” she says.

She says the recognition reinforces Meridian’s role in supporting long-term outcomes for stakeholders.

“A company of our scale can make a meaningful difference. This recognition reinforces our efforts to act in the long-term interests of investors, customers, communities and the country – especially at a time when energy choices matter more than ever,” Shaw says.

The Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index is part of S&P Global’s annual sustainability review, which evaluates companies across multiple sectors worldwide.