APC 2009 Annual Report Download - page 42

2009 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC40
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2FRAMEWORK
Other commitments
Alliance to Save Energy
In 2008, Schneider Electric became a member of the Alliance to Save
Energy. This international organisation brings together corporate
leaders, politicians, environmental protection advocates and
consumers with the goal of promoting energy effi ciency worldwide
to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater
energy security.
Diversity Charter
Schneider Electric signed the Diversity Charter launched by Institut
Montaigne in 2004. Going beyond France, the Group has decided to
apply the charter’s principles in all host countries or to update similar
policies in countries where they exist.
Apprenticeship Charter (France)
Schneider Electric has signed an Apprenticeship Charter in
France. The charter grew out of the Group’s initiatives after Jean-
Louis Borloo, the former French Minister for Employment, Social
Cohesion and Housing chose Henri Lachmann to lead a specifi c
mission to promote corporate support for developing apprenticeship.
I n this context, and in spite of the crisis, the corporate world has
confi rmed its strong commitment to providing work based learning
and welcoming young people to be trained.
Clinton Climate Initiative
In 2007, Schneider Electric joined the Clinton Climate Initiative, an
international programme designed to help the world’s forty largest
cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by managing energy
consumption in buildings more effectively.
Global Compact
Launched in 1999 by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Global
Compact brings companies and non-governmental organizations
together under the aegis of the United Nations to “unite the power
of market with the authority of universal ideals”.
Signatories are expected to embrace, support and enact ten
principles in the areas of human rights, labour rights and the
environment.
Schneider Electric publicly expressed its support for universal values
by joining the Compact in December2002. The Group has primarily
worked to share this commitment with its partners since 2003.
French environmental summit
A national summit on environmental issues named as Grenelle de
l’environnement was held in France in 2007, bringing all stakeholders
together around one table. Schneider Electric highlighted the
importance of energy effi ciency during the summit.
World Health Organisation
Schneider Electric uses the World Health Organisation ’s defi nition of
health in defi ning its policies (“Health is a state of complete physical,
mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease
or infi rmity”).
Observatoire Social International
Schneider Electric also takes part in the work of the Observatoire
Social International (OSI). It has signed on to the “right to lifelong
education and training”, which aims to develop a relationship of
partnership and co-responsibility between companies and educators
and trainers.
Nicolas Hulot’s pact for the environment
The Group was the first industrial company to sign French
environmentalist Nicolas Hulot’s pact for the environment, with the
fi rm intention of integrating the majority of the pact’s ten objectives
in its corporate strategy.
Standards organizations
The Group works with international standards organizations
in developing the standards that apply to its products. These
organizations include France’s Union Technique de l’électricité
et de la communication (UTE), the European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Standards
Organisation (ISO).
Schneider Electric plays an active role within AFNOR, the French
standards organisation . In particular, it participates in the working
group on sustainable development.
Since February2007, Schneider Electric has represented France
on the IEC’s Advisory Committee for Environmental Aspects, which
is responsible for advising and coordinating the Commission’s work
on environmental issues.
Other associations
Schneider Electric is a member of the Board of Directors of the
French study centre for corporate responsibility (ORSE) and of the
French Global Compact network. For many years, the Group has
also actively supported Association pour le développement du
mécénat industriel et commercial (ADMICAL), a French not-for-
profi t organisation involved in corporate sponsorship issues, and
IMS Entreprendre pour la cité , an association that helps companies
implement their corporate social responsibility policies. Lastly, the
Group participate s in work conducted by CSR Europe, notably in
the area of occupational health.