APC 2012 Annual Report Download - page 5

2012 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 3
MESSAGE FROMJEAN-PASCAL TRICOIRE
CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Schneider Electric also welcomed on board the companies we had
recently acquired, and made sure these new teams would fi nd their
place at Schneider Electric, and build all the necessary bridges to
develop a growth and cost advantage for our customers.
We stepped up our engagement in social responsibility and
sustainable development, in fi ve key directions: environment, social,
society, ethics, and dedicated actions for underprivileged people.
We measure our progress in our Planet & Society barometer, and
integrate this indicator in the incentives of our leaders. In addition to
our support to the UN Global compact since 2003, o ur commitment
has been recognized, and we are proud to be part of ethical stock
indices and ratings of reference such as Dow Jones Sustainability
Indices (World and Europe), Carbon Disclosure Project, Global
100 Most Sustainable Corporations and Ethisphere Most ethical
companies. I am particularly proud of our BipBop Access to
energy program. In 2012, this initiative brought electricity to
340, 000households, and enabled to train 10,000underprivileged
youngsters in the fi eld of electricity.
As a specialist in effi ciency technologies, Schneider Electric has
been an active contributor to the debates over the world energy
challenge and climate change, explaining some of the new solutions
offered by technology.
The world of energy is under important pressure and undergoing
major transitions. Energy prices, commercial unbalance due to
energy imports, energy availability, climate change and pollution
in large cities are many challenges demanding a different energy
paradigm. The energy challenge is there to stay. New technologies,
the convergence of IT and energy technologies, and the new
affordability of renewable sources of energy open the door to a new
world. A world where energy is saved systematically, where energy
is produced closer to centers of consumption, where energy is
better shared, where the environment is connected and accessible.
Users, managers and utilities will then work together to save more
and share better energy, and integrate a more intelligent energy for
more intelligent and effi cient cities. It is time for everyone to become
an active player in energy, by saving, producing and consuming
energy in the same place. Everyone will then drive this connecting,
sharing and integrating.
Schneider Electric helps to face these transitions and builds this new
energy world. This is the mission, the aspiration, the ambition of all
Schneider Electric’s 140, 000people, in the 100countries where we
serve our customers wherever they develop, defy challenges, and
innovate to build a more effi cient world.