2007-02-12 - Stakeholder dialogues at ABB, on both a corporate and a country level, present a valuable opportunity to road test ideas and policies for critical comment, and receive independent feedback on performance and objectives.
First sustainability dialogue workshop in South Africa
ABB held its first stakeholder dialogue workshop in South Africa in February 2007. Participants focused on three key issues -- technical skills development, HIV/AIDS and business continuity and climate change and carbon neutrality. The meeting was led by Carlos Pone, country manager and CEO of ABB South Africa.
More than 30 key stakeholders representing customers, the government, employee unions, suppliers, community organizations and educational institutions heard about ABB’s current sustainability priorities and issues. These include Black Economic Empowerment procurement, technical skills development, support of the National Energy Efficiency Accord and care for orphans of HIV/AIDS.
As at a global level, participants felt that ABB has an important role to play on climate change by supplying energy-efficient technology to its customers but that the company requires a long-term, coordinated plan for its climate change initiatives.
On skills development, stakeholders praised ABB’s efforts to attract, develop and retain technically skilled employees, and urged the company to engage more with key players and support a national skills strategy.
Discussing HIV/AIDS and business continuity, stakeholders said it was important for companies like ABB to stay committed to community programs. They felt that since ABB had completed its own voluntary counseling and testing program, it should be linked to the company's broader wellness programmes for employees and, if necessary, to adjust these programme to have an impact on combating the effects of HIV/AIDS.
Group level stakeholder dialogue
Three key areas of activities – climate change and the challenges and opportunities it presents, how ABB manages its work in sensitive countries, and preparations for a bird flu pandemic – were discussed in detail at the main corporate level stakeholder dialogue, held in December 2006 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The meeting, led by an Executive Committee member Gary Steel, brought together high-ranking representatives of several leading international companies, including two CEOs, as well as human rights specialists and an ABB employee representative.
Among the current and future priorities outlined by ABB were energy efficiency and emissions reduction, safety and business ethics.
Climate change and, in particular, ABB’s response was discussed. The 3C – combat climate change – initiative led by Swedish utility Vattenfall which ABB has already signed was discussed in detail. ABB also felt the need to step up cooperation with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development following a discussion of its priorities and challenges.
ABB representatives outlined how the company decides whether to have business activities in sensitive or weak governance countries, and the challenges and opportunities this involves. In particular, ABB’s contributions to furthering human rights were set against the human rights in certain countries where it works.
One of the issues facing many companies – how to prepare for and respond to a pandemic – was discussed in detail with input from a medical specialist from SOS International. ABB outlined its detailed plans to cope with an avian flu pandemic, assuring as far as possible employees’ health and business continuity.