Siemens finances new fossil fuel projects: Our countermotion

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/

Open Letter To EU Institutions On The IEA Net Zero Report And The Implications For Fossil Gas In The EU Climate Taxonomy

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.”
Weiterlesen

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/

Irresponsible Implementation of Arms Export Principles by Heckler & Koch

  • 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/

Countermotions at the Annual General Meeting of the Heckler & Koch AG on August 31st, 2021

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/

Nornickel’s ruthless business model and the responsibility of German corporations

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/

Deutsche Bank must listen to the International Energy Agency: No new investments in fossil fuels!

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/

Two days ahead of Uniper’s AGM, Dutch state asks German court to review legal basis for compensation claims

  • 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/

Financing the fossil energy sector makes Deutsche Bank a climate offender: Our countermotion

Re Agenda Item 2: Ratification of the acts of management of the members of the Management Board for the 2020 financial year

Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany proposes that ratification of the acts of management of the Management Board be refused.

Reasons

The Management Board of Deutsche Bank continues to pursue a course of action that is incompatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Because it provides finance to the fossil fuels sector, Deutsche Bank is part of the problem

Although Deutsche Bank toughened up its environmental policies last July and has subjected a greater number of coal and other fossil fuel companies to review and exclusion, it still remains a significant source of finance for fossil fuels. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/deutsche-bank/financing-the-fossil-energy-sector-makes-deutsche-bank-a-climate-offender-our-countermotion/