We, the undersigned organisations, welcome the European Commission’s proposalfor a new EU regulation on deforestation-free products. This proposal represents an essential step forward in global environmental governance and a huge opportunity to minimise the EU’s impacts on people and planet in line with its commitments on climate, biodiversity and human rights. It is now up to the European Parliament and Member States to preserve and improve the essential elements of the Commission’s proposal and deliver a strong and ambitious law that meets the high expectations of EU citizens. To that end, we call on the European Parliament and Member States to ensure the current proposal is strengthened to include:
Strong sustainability requirements based on objective criteria that ensure no goods linked to deforestation or forest degradation, as foreseen in the Commission’s proposal, but also to the conversion of other natural ecosystems or human rights violations, may be placed on or exported from the EU market.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/human-rights-due-diligence/civil-society-position-statement-on-the-proposed-eu-regulation-on-deforestation-free-products/
Protest at Siemens AGM 2020. Photo: SumOfUs/Zack Helwa CC BY 2.0
Regarding Agenda Item 3: To ratify the acts of the members of the Managing Board
The Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany requests that the acts of the members of the Managing Board not be ratified.
Rationale:
The Managing Board of Siemens AG declines to withdraw from financing fossil energy projects and is therefore not living up to its responsibility to comply with the targets defined in the Paris Agreement.
Rising emissions in the supply chain
The impact of Siemens’ economic activities on climate change does not come from the direct greenhouse gas emissions caused by Siemens, but mainly from upstream and downstream emissions in the value chain (Scope 3 emissions). Weiterlesen
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/siemens-2/siemens-finances-new-fossil-fuel-projects-our-countermotion/
The publication of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero by 2050 Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector in May 2021 was a watershed moment for global climate action. The report maps out concrete milestones that need to be met to enable a 2050 world with net zero emissions and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C.
The IEA report finds that in order to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5oC, we must ensure:
No investment in new fossil fuel supply beyond projects committed in 2021: As the Executive Director of the IEA stated: “there is no need for new oil, gas and coal development, which includes no need for oil and gas exploration investments.”
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/greenwashing-en/open-letter-to-eu-institutions-on-the-iea-net-zero-report-and-the-implications-for-fossil-gas-in-the-eu-climate-taxonomy/
Heckler & Koch continues to supply regions of conflict and human rights abusing regimes
The arms manufacturer still carries the name of deadly Nazi-henchman Heckler & Koch
Countermotions on the non-release of the board of directors and supervisory board
Ethical shareholders submit 103 questions concerning worrying company developments
On the occasion of the Annual General Meeting of the Heckler & Koch AG on August 31st, 2021, the coalition of ethical shareholders demands that the small arms maker finally credibly and consistently implements its “Green-Countries-Strategy”. According to the strategy, the company was only going to export to democratic and non-corrupt countries such as the EU and NATO, as well as countries deemed NATO-equivalent. Weiterlesen
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/heckler-koch-en/irresponsible-implementation-of-arms-export-principles-by-heckler-koch/
On agenda item 3: Resolution on the discharge of the members of the Board of Directors
The members of the Board of Directors are not discharged.
Justification:
The Board of Directors of Heckler & Koch AG is not living up to its own claim to make the group a „pioneer of a responsible arms export strategy“. The so-called „green country strategy“ is currently irresponsible, as can be seen from the lethal product portfolio. For the Critical Shareholders Heckler & Koch, responsibility means: Heckler & Koch weapons must not be used in wars, armed conflicts or human rights violations under any circumstances. Weiterlesen
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/heckler-koch-en/countermotions-at-the-annual-general-meeting-of-the-heckler-koch-ag-on-august-31st-2021/
German corporations must demand that Russian extractive company Nornickel respect indigenous rights and environmental standards – or end business deals
After more than 21,000 tons of diesel leaked from a power plant tank in May 2020, causing the largest oil spill in the Russian Arctic to date, the company responsible, Nornickel (Norilsk Nickel), had to pay Russia’s highest fine to date.
In the satellite image, diesel oil spilled in the Ambarnaya River on May 31, 2020 is easily recognizable by its red color.
ESA, CC BY-SA IGO 3.0
But this is still a long way from repairing the damage, let alone addressing the causes. Weiterlesen
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/human-rights-due-diligence/nornickels-ruthless-business-model-and-the-responsibility-of-german-corporations/
Our statement for the Annual General Meeting 2021 of Deutsche Bank
Dear Shareholders,
In 2015, Deutsche Bank vowed to support the Paris Agreement [1]. However, since then, Deutsche Bank’s actions have not matched its rhetoric.
Since the Paris Agreement was signed, Deutsche has been a major financier of coal, oil and gas. According to the Banking on Climate Chaos report, between 2016-2020, Deutsche provided US$30.438 billion to companies responsible for expanding fossil fuels [2]. These investments seriously undercut Deutsche Bank’s claims to support climate protection.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been clear that limiting global warming to 1.5ºC avoids many of the more severe impacts that would occur at 2ºC of warming [3]. Weiterlesen
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/deutsche-bank/deutsche-bank-must-listen-to-the-international-energy-agency-no-new-investments-in-fossil-fuels/
Uniper uses Energy Charter Treaty to stifle measures to combat climate crisis
Energy utility’s fossil gas strategy incompatible with UN Climate Agreement
Supply chain deals reveal weak Human Rights standards
Today, the Dutch government announced it was asking a German court whether the arbitration cases brought forward by RWE and Uniper have a legal basis. The two German utilities had recently filed compensation claims under the Energy Charter Treaty framework (ECT) against the Dutch state for its coal phase-out. The Netherlands’ announcement comes two days ahead of Uniper’s annual general meeting.
„The ministry is of the opinion that the Coal Prohibition Act has been carefully drawn up and is the result of thorough democratic decision-making, in which all interests have been carefully weighed.Weiterlesen
Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/uniper-2/two-days-ahead-of-unipers-agm-dutch-state-asks-german-court-to-review-legal-basis-for-compensation-claims/
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