Universal Registration Document 2021

3. Non-financial performance

3.4 Responsible development

The Group aims to achieve responsible growth. To do so, it has made a priority commitment to maintaining and developing a high level of stakeholder dialogue and consultation in all projects and operational business, whilst ensuring that regulated network operator management remains properly independent. Indeed, over and above its environmental responsibility and alongside its social and societal responsibility, the Group seeks to nurture economic, social, and human development in all territories in which it operates. The Group is keen to develop, stimulate, and support industries, and aims to implement responsible behaviour as its digital development expands.

100%

ANNUAL RATE OF PROJECTS ENGAGING DIALOGUE AND CONSULTATION PROCEDURES

24.9%

ANNUAL RATE OF PROCUREMENT FROM SMES IN FRANCE

28.6%

ACHIEVEMENT RATE FOR RELOCATION AND MAINTAINING NUCLEAR INDUSTRY SKILLS ACTIONS

18.8%

ACHIEVEMENT RATE OF COMMITMENTS TOWARDS FRENCH INSTITUT DU RESPONSIBLE DIGITALIZATION

3.4.1 Dialogue and consultation with stakeholders

Stakeholder dialogue is a key component of EDF culture, forming the basis of the cooperative approach EDF takes with its stakeholders. The Group has made dialogue and consultation one of its priority societal commitments.

3.4.1.1 Experience in dialogue and consultation

EDF’s history and its role as a major investor and operator throughout France have allowed it to develop long-standing, tried and tested experience in listening, dialogue, and consultation with stakeholders. Today, stakeholder dialogue and relations are organised with a view to taking into account multiple stakeholders and a diverse range of situations. In a fast-changing society, EDF supports social innovation in local stakeholder relations.

3.4.1.1.1 EDF, a policy of dialogue and consultation

EDF: a pioneer in the implementation of stakeholder panels

For over 20 years, the EDF group has relied on different external stakeholder councils, at corporate, country and subsidiary level. Several panels of experts from civil society provide Group managers with their view on the major topics of interest to EDF.

Group Stakeholder Advisory Committee

For dialogue with external stakeholders, over and above forums for listening to third parties, strategic watch, and ongoing partnerships, EDF group’s main body is the new Stakeholder Advisory Committee ⁽¹⁾. This is a joint, multidisciplinary, voluntary group made up of thirteen individuals representing civil society (climatologists, delegates from student and consumer groups, economists, solidarity actors, etc.).

They share their insights on the Company’s strategic orientations with the Chairman. Recommendations are systematically made following their work.

Sessions	Three sessions were held during the past year: EDF's raison d'être and its links with the CAP 2030 strategy to deliver integrated CSR; the development of renewable energies, in particular wind and solar power; energy mix scenarios for 2050 and related externalities.
Engagement of members in follow-up work	EDF makes sure members of this Advisory Committee are heard outside the Company: first impact report, 2021: EDF gave space over to several members of its Stakeholder Advisory Committee in this unprecedented document for them to assess EDF’s orientations; media: together with the Le Monde newspaper and M magazine, two members of the Advisory Committee discussed their views on climate change issues and the Company’s strategy with senior executives of the Group.

Sessions

Three sessions were held during the past year:

EDF's raison d'être and its links with the CAP 2030 strategy to deliver integrated CSR;
the development of renewable energies, in particular wind and solar power;
energy mix scenarios for 2050 and related externalities.

Engagement of members in follow-up work

EDF makes sure members of this Advisory Committee are heard outside the Company:

first impact report, 2021: EDF gave space over to several members of its Stakeholder Advisory Committee in this unprecedented document for them to assess EDF’s orientations;
media: together with the Le Monde newspaper and M magazine, two members of the Advisory Committee discussed their views on climate change issues and the Company’s strategy with senior executives of the Group.

Other Advisory Committees in which stakeholders are involved

Scientific Council: chaired by Sébastien Candel, Chairman of the Academy of Sciences, the Scientific Council met three times in 2021 to discuss on the following topics: the international R&D activities, biodiversity and EDF’s R&D orientations.
Edison Stakeholder Advisory Panel: the Panel met three times in 2021, discussing local value creation arising from energy demand management and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Enedis Stakeholder Advisory Committee: the Committee met three times, discussing the contribution of R&D to CSR, the culture of fairness amid new societal trends, and cybersecurity. The minutes of the conclusions of each Advisory Committee meeting are shared with the members of Enedis’ Executive Members of these bodies were invited to continue dialogue on the topic of new societal trends with the Strategy Department. Enedis regularly implements regional iterations of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee. In 2021, seven of its 25 regional Divisions engaged in a pilot phase.

(1) This has replaced the Sustainable Development Council, set up eight years previously.