A question for…Carine de Boissezon, Chief Impact Officer at EDF

At a time when strong pressure is being exerted to reduce the scope of the CSRD and Due Diligence directives via an “Omnibus package”, what are your arguments for convincing people of the benefits of signing a global agreement on social and environmental responsibility?
At EDF, we didn’t wait for the issue of CSR to pass into law before we tackled it. We believe there can be no energy transition unless employees and communities buy into the idea. Employees are a key stakeholder. A group like EDF, which invests 25 billion euros every year, can’t deliver sustainable performance unless our own strategic vision is an integral part of this, namely decarbonising the economy, sticking to the limits of what the planet can cope with, and ensuring a just transition. Investors look closely at the social aspects of how a company is run. For example, they realised that the businesses that recovered most strongly after Covid 19 are those that stood by their employees during that period. This agreement sets a CSR standard within the group and adds credibility to the steps we’re taking, because involving employees can resolve the differences between intentions expressed and operational realities on the ground. It’s very important for employees to understand CSR issues. Admittedly, the existing standards need to be simplified, but we must also provide better signposting for investors, so that they have a clearer view of corporate sustainability. A business that takes an active approach to CSR, and showcases its performance and its appeal, should be able to secure more favourable financing terms.