Countermotion

With regard to Agenda Item 2: Ratification of the actions of the members of the Board of Management

The Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany moves that the actions of the members of the Board of Management not be ratified.

Reason:

The Board of Management of Bayer AG is not sufficiently fulfilling its responsibility to implement more effective climate protection measures and transparently comply with duty of care responsibilities with regard to human rights.

Climate protection challenges postponed for 10 years

It is commendable that Bayer has finally presented a plan for reducing its own direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) that appears to be compatible with the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/bayer-en/countermotion-2/

Countermotions

Regarding Item 2 of the Agenda

The Association of Ethical Shareholders proposes that the allocation of distributable profit as proposed by the management is to be rejected.

Reasons:

By increasing the dividend in the middle of the corona pandemic, Daimler AG is showing its ignorance of the mood of society as a whole. While the Group is receiving the short-time working allowance for some of its workforce, it is now paying out €1.35 per share instead of the 90 cents paid last year. Daimler employees, whose wages have been cut or who are threatened with dismissal due to the savings plan of Daimler CEO Ola Källenius, cannot understand why shareholders are to receive €1.4 billion. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/mercedes-benz-en/countermotions-3/

Questions relating to wind power projects in the Moroccan-occupied territories of Western Sahara

On the occasion of the Annual General Meeting 2021, we are asking Siemens Gamesa the following questions, as we are concerned about financial, legal and reputational risks related to Siemens Gamesa’s business activities in the Moroccan-occupied territories of Western Sahara.

In Moroccan occupied Western Sahara, the occupying power exploits natural resources in violation of international law. Morocco also engages in wind energy projects in Western Sahara, and practically all of these wind farms run on turbines made by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE). In the Foum El Oued wind park they provide almost all the energy needed for the transport of illegally exploited phosphates on the 100km conveyor belt to the coast. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/siemens-gamesa/questions-on-the-occasion-of-the-agm-relating-to-wind-power-projects-in-the-moroccan-occupied-territories-of-western-sahara/

“BASF must take action to address NorNickel’s violations”: Open response letter to BASF

Representatives of Indigenous Peoples, environmental and human rights organizations criticize BASF for not taking action to address NorNickel’s impacts to Indigenous Peoples of Russia’s Far North

Dear Dr. Dohrn:

Thank you for your response of December 4, 2020. We appreciate that you recognize NorNickel’s history and legacy of severe environmental incidents. Unfortunately, based on the evidence that we have seen, we do not yet share your optimism that NorNickel is willing to work towards sustainability. We believe BASF’s failure to take action to address NorNickel’s impacts to Indigenous Peoples of Russia’s Far North represents violations of BASF’s Group Position on Human Rights and its Supplier Code of Conduct. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/basf-must-take-action-to-address-nornickels-violations-open-response-letter-to-basf/

New company, outdated business model: Siemens Energy fails on climate and human rights

  • Company disregards due diligence on human rights, clings to fossils
  • International law concerns: Norway’s largest private asset manager excludes Siemens Energy
  • Gas turbines for LNG-Project in conflict area in Mozambique

Ahead of Siemens Energy’s first annual general meeting, environmental and human rights organizations are seeing the company headed in a critical direction. Serious human rights issues and the adherence to coal and gas transactions weigh heavily on the future sustainability of the company. “Previously announced job cuts are the price Siemens Energy is paying for its ignorance in connection with the global energy revolution. The announced coal phase-out is half-hearted and the path beyond fossil energy, which should be adequately respecting international and human rights, is missing“, says Regine Richter, energy campaigner from the environmental and human rights organization Urgewald. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/siemens-energy-2/new-company-outdated-business-model-siemens-energy-fails-on-climate-and-human-rights/

„Full speed into the crisis“: NGOs demand actual change of course rather than lip service

  • The company’s clinging to fossil business is not future-proof
  • Siemens still plans to move forward with gas project in Israel against government decision
  • Siemens provides financial services worth millions to oil and gas companies

In Siemens‘ most recent sustainability report, CEO Joe Kaeser and his appointed successor Roland Busch claim to have learnt from last year’s Adani disaster. However, a look at Siemens’ current business dealings begs the question of how far-reaching this learning effect has actually been for the company. Recent research shows that Siemens’ Financial Services division finances companies driving large-scale oil and gas extraction projects in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the USA. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/press-release/full-speed-into-the-crisis-ngos-demand-actual-change-of-course-rather-than-lip-service/

Countermotions

Re Agenda item 2: To ratify the acts of the members of the Executive Board

The Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany requests that the acts of the members of the Executive Board not be ratified.

Supporting information:

The climate protection measures announced by the Executive Board of Siemens Energy AG do not live up to the Paris Agreement. A concrete roadmap for the company to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions in line with the objective of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is urgently needed. A swift reduction in the CO2emissions produced from the use of Siemens Energy products (Scope 3 emissions) is vital for that. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/siemens-energy-2/countermotions-2021-2/

Countermotions

Agenda item 2: Adoption of a resolution for the utilization of the unappropriated earnings

The recommended utilization of the unappropriated earnings shall be rejected.
Reasoning: The utilization of the unappropriated earnings has to take the consequences of copper mining and copper production into account. Copper production pollutes the environment and harms the health of the population in mining regions and at the copper smelter sites. By forgoing a dividend, the shareholders can contribute to mitigating the ecological, health, and social damage brought on by copper production. Aurubis AG’s unappropriated earnings from the past fiscal year shall not be used to pay out a dividend of € 1.30 per no-par-value share (€ 56,756,739.00 in total). Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/aurubis-2/countermotions-2/