Taking responsibility and shaping the future
As one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies, we have a special responsibility to society. Johannes Teyssen, CEO of E.ON AG:
"Our responsibility to society lies in ensuring a safe, sustainable and affordable energy supply. In light of the terrible natural disaster in Japan and the resulting accidents at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, we once again need to engage in a candid and transparent discussion about the safety of our nuclear power plants and the transformation of our energy system. This discussion is more than just technical - it also involves society.
At E.ON, safety and security has always been about much more than just secure energy supply - even before the events in Fukushima. Safe operation of our sites, employee safety, and the safety of our nuclear power plants in particular remain our top priorities. Our business conduct as an international company is based on more than just safety issues: It is governed by our corporate values and our commitment to the principles of the 'United Nations Global Compact'. This includes our commitment to uphold human rights and binding international labor and environmental standards, as well as our commitment to the fight against corruption.
As an energy company, we have a special responsibility to help protect the climate. So we have set ourselves particularly ambitious goals in this area. To us, sustainability means working on energy concepts and helping to develop tomorrow's technologies today. Individual projects such as marine energy tests are just as important as new concepts for sustainable electricity generation, increasing the use of efficient technologies in households, and using electric vehicles in cities that will take shape in the decades to come.
How are we going to accomplish these tasks? And reach all the goals we've set? As ever, we rely on conversation and partnership with our stakeholders wherever we do business. When it comes to deploying forward-looking solutions for sustainable energy supply, acceptance in communities is just as important to us as political dialog on a national level."
"Our responsibility to society lies in ensuring a safe, sustainable and affordable energy supply. In light of the terrible natural disaster in Japan and the resulting accidents at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, we once again need to engage in a candid and transparent discussion about the safety of our nuclear power plants and the transformation of our energy system. This discussion is more than just technical - it also involves society.
At E.ON, safety and security has always been about much more than just secure energy supply - even before the events in Fukushima. Safe operation of our sites, employee safety, and the safety of our nuclear power plants in particular remain our top priorities. Our business conduct as an international company is based on more than just safety issues: It is governed by our corporate values and our commitment to the principles of the 'United Nations Global Compact'. This includes our commitment to uphold human rights and binding international labor and environmental standards, as well as our commitment to the fight against corruption.
As an energy company, we have a special responsibility to help protect the climate. So we have set ourselves particularly ambitious goals in this area. To us, sustainability means working on energy concepts and helping to develop tomorrow's technologies today. Individual projects such as marine energy tests are just as important as new concepts for sustainable electricity generation, increasing the use of efficient technologies in households, and using electric vehicles in cities that will take shape in the decades to come.
How are we going to accomplish these tasks? And reach all the goals we've set? As ever, we rely on conversation and partnership with our stakeholders wherever we do business. When it comes to deploying forward-looking solutions for sustainable energy supply, acceptance in communities is just as important to us as political dialog on a national level."
In its 2006 Commitment, the E.ON AG Board affirmed the importance of our company's social responsibility:
We behave responsibly towards our colleagues, customers, suppliers, the environment, and the communities where we live and work. We seek to improve lives everywhere we operate, aiming for a healthy, safe and sustainable environment. We consider the needs of the present generation and also anticipate the needs of future generations. Corporate Responsibility (CR) is a fundamental part of the way we do business.
More specifically, at E.ON we:
We behave responsibly towards our colleagues, customers, suppliers, the environment, and the communities where we live and work. We seek to improve lives everywhere we operate, aiming for a healthy, safe and sustainable environment. We consider the needs of the present generation and also anticipate the needs of future generations. Corporate Responsibility (CR) is a fundamental part of the way we do business.
More specifically, at E.ON we:
- Are responsible for providing our markets with a secure, economic and climate-friendly supply of energy.
- Uphold the ten principles of the UN Global Compact on human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and fighting corruption.
- Are committed to successful long-term development of the communities where we live and work.
- Report our achievements openly, reliably and self-critically. This includes making an appropriate and balanced presentation of our economic, environmental and social activities and achievements in line with the Global Reporting Initiative's current recommendations for sustainability reporting.
- Seek to engage in objective dialog about our activities and about the challenges our industry will face in the future.
Board of Management of E.ON AG, Düsseldorf, June 2006
