Orsted
ESRS disclosure: ESRS S3 \ DR S3-2 \ Paragraph 21
Tags Tree
- "Provide a detailed account of whether and how the perspectives of affected communities are integrated into your company's decision-making processes or activities concerning the management of actual and potential impacts on these communities. Include, where applicable, an explanation of the methods and processes employed for such engagement."
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Question Id: S3-2_01
We aim to go above the minimum regulatory requirements regarding engagement with affected communities, as we believe these engagements are essential for securing and sustaining the social license necessary for advancing renewable energy development. To ensure that our decisions reflect the perspectives of affected communities, we engage proactively with community stakeholders and local organisations and seek ongoing dialogue with them, ensuring their voices are heard and considered in our decision-making processes. This approach is being integrated across our business functions, markets, and asset projects. Engagement occurs at various frequencies and at various stages of a project. Our aim is to initiate early dialogue during the planning phase to gather the insights and concerns of the affected communities. This takes place through e.g. our community liaison officers and project staff employing different types of interaction, such as public meetings and consultations to facilitate open communication. When we employ community liaison officers in our projects, they often come from the communities we engage with, helping us gain a profound understanding of the local contexts. We continue this dialogue through the development, construction, and operation phases of our renewable energy assets.
Report Date: 4Q2024Relevance: 90%
- Provide a detailed account of the actions your organization has taken, plans to take, or is currently undertaking to prevent or mitigate material negative impacts on affected communities. Include approaches to managing material risks and pursuing material opportunities related to these communities, as well as the effectiveness of these actions.
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Question Id: S3-4_01
Overall, our 'Code of conduct for business partners' and policies on human rights and stakeholder engagement describe our approach to:
- respecting Indigenous Peoples, minorities, and other vulnerable groups in line with international law and standards as described in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the principles of FPIC
- respecting land rights of legitimate tenure rights holders as set out in the UN Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests
- ensuring the safety and protection of defenders of human rights, the environment, or Indigenous Peoples
- mandating that our business partners take measures to protect environmental and human rights defenders and other interested parties who lawfully exercise their freedom of speech.
We engage in early and ongoing dialogue with local communities and Indigenous Peoples by hosting e.g. consultation sessions, attending community meetings, and conducting surveys. This approach helps us gather insights to better understand their external perspectives on our projects and the local impacts. We aim to build an approach based on transparent communication, co-creation of mitigation measures, and on ensuring that feedback is integrated into project planning and execution.
Through our policies, we commit to provide and enable remedies for potential human rights impacts by implementing accessible grievance mechanisms that allow affected individuals and communities to report concerns or violations, ensuring these channels are user-friendly, confidential, and culturally appropriate. Upon receiving a grievance, we must promptly investigate the issue and engage with the affected parties to gather information and consider their perspectives.
If human rights impacts are identified, we strive to take immediate action and provide appropriate remedies, which may include compensation, restoration of rights, or preventive measures. We also invest in training of our employees and business partners to raise awareness of human rights issues, e.g. related to bullying and discrimination.
Report Date: 4Q2024Relevance: 90%