Order 2017-1180 of 19 July 2017 and Decree 2017-1265 of 9 August 2017 transposed European Directive 2014/95/EU amending Article 225 of the Commercial Code, which requires companies falling within its scope to publish labour, environmental and social information in their management report. EDF falls within the scope of application of this regulation aiming to draw up a non-financial performance report for the year 2019.
EDF presents its business model in chapter 1 of this document and the analysis of its principal risk factors in chapter 2, of which the high-priority CSR risks(1) are detailed in chapter 3, particularly via the Group materiality matrix that takes account of 18 major issues (see sections 3.1.1.2 and 3.6.2). EDF describes how these issues are covered by reasonable due diligence policies and procedures, and mentions key performance indicators when it is relevant.
Chapter 3 shows how EDF, as a responsible company (section 3.1), is committed to the energy transition (section 3.2) and a just and fair transition (section 3.3)(2). This is demonstrated not only by its six Corporate Social Responsibility Goals (CSRG), but also through its policies and all the action it takes on environmental, social or societal issues.
The EDF vigilance plan, presented by virtue of the French law of 27 March 2017 relating to the duty of care (“devoir de vigilance”) of parent companies and ordering companies, is developed in section 3.6.1.
Each section of this chapter identifies whether the theme is a materiality matrix issue, if it features a key performance indicator(3), if it involves a Group Corporate Social Responsibility Goal (CSRG), and how EDF’s action in this field contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2019, EDF launched the first edition of ObsCop, the Observatoire Climat & Opinions Publiques (i.e. French climate and public opinion monitoring survey), which is a unique poll organised by IPSOS in 30 countries based on a representative sample of 24,000 people. Its aim is to produce an international overview of opinions, knowledge, expectations and levels of engagement regarding climate change in order to provide food for thought and contribute to the constructive identification of solutions for the future. The full results are available as open data to allow anyone, particularly researchers, to use them(5).
Other surveys are also repeated year on year, including the poll of local residents living near nuclear generation, classic thermal, and hydropower facilities(6) which, since 2009, has aimed to measure the perception of local residents of facilities and energy, or even the internal environmental survey (Baromètre interne des perceptions de l’environnement – BIPE), for which a sample of EDF and Enedis employees(7) answer questions on these same themes(8).
Between June 2019 and November 2019, the Group met with and hosted talks by representatives of Manifeste pour un réveil écologique (i.e. “manifesto for an ecological awakening(9) ”), including a seminar for environmental experts featuring 200 participants from around forty Group entities and units. This gave them the opportunity to present the work of this organisation and attract the attention of the Group’s management by demonstrating their determination to work only for businesses that genuinely understand the scale of environmental issues. In October, Edison organised a focus group at Bocconi University in Italy with Millennials and members of generation Z.
EDF also has access to the most advanced discussions and research on sustainable development through think tanks, partnerships(10) and various research institutes. The objective is to exchange about the best practices and also to enrich the quality of discussions for public decision-makers during events such as negotiations on climate change or biodiversity (COP(11)).
For over 20 years, the EDF group has relied on different external stakeholder councils, at the corporate, country and subsidiary level. Several panels of experts provide Group managers with their view on the major topics of interest to EDF.
The Sustainable Development Council is made up of external specialists who represent various major environmental, social and societal issues affecting the EDF group. It challenges EDF managers and experts as early as possible about the Company’s proposed actions regarding sustainable development. In 2019, the panel met twice, focusing firstly on the participant’s guide submitted by EDF for the public debate on the French national radioactive materials and waste management plan (PGMDR), then on revision of the Group’s materiality matrix. The EDF Scientific Council, chaired by Sébastien Candel, Chairman of the Academy of Sciences, met three times in 2019 to discuss the impact of climate change on EDF, the impact of climate change, and the IoT (Internet of things). EDF’s Medical Council is a body for reflection and advice on a number of current health topics connected to EDF’s activities. In 2019, it examined issues including the distributor Enedis’ Linky(1) meter and the reconversion of coal-fired power plants to biomass.
(1) See section 2.2 “Risks to which the Group is exposed”, particularly risks more specifically linked to environmental, social and societal aspects liable to impact its corporate responsibility.
(2) In line with the objectives of the European Green Deal presented by Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament on 11 December 2019.
(3) Also summarised in the non-financial performance statement concordance table included in section 8.5.4.
(4) Corporate Social Responsibility.
(5) The results are also available at www.edf.fr/observatoire.
(6) Nineteen nuclear generation sites, 6 fossil thermal sites, 14 hydropower sites and 2 nuclear sites being decommissioned (Creys-Malville and Brennilis) were the focus of this survey in 2018.
(7) Enedis is an independently managed subsidiary.
(8) There are plenty of other customer-focused schemes. Examples include regular dialogue between consumer associations and the Trading Division, Citelum or SEI; “Ma Rivière et Moi” (i.e. “My River & Me”), a multi-service digital information and data sharing platform developed by EDF Hydro.
(9) This was a wake-up call for businesses and public authorities on the urgency of environmental issues, signed by more than 30,000 students.
(10) See section 3.1.2.4.5 “Expertise from sustainable development partnerships”.
(11) Conference of Parties.
