Eni for Human Rights 2021, an annual report that accounts for the company’s approach to the issue of human rights challenges and opportunities, has been published.
“We are living in a time of disruption that requires us to act with greater responsibility to affirm our values: peace, respect for human rights, and a sense of community”, said Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalvi.
“The war is destroying people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as deteriorating international relations, compelling us to band together to seek our common good. In this context, our goal is clear: we want to maintain a laser-like focus on a just, people-centered transition. “We will achieve this goal only if we share the costs fairly, without burdening workers or vulnerable communities, while accelerating decarbonization to meet the Paris Agreements’ objectives”.
Among the key outcomes of the 2021 report, Eni outlines four specific human rights studies in relation to industrial projects deemed more vulnerable in Angola, Albania, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, which resulted in the development of concrete Human Rights Action Plans tailored to the specificities of each country.
In addition, the company reaffirmed its commitment to women’s rights by signing the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles. Furthermore, Eni issued a Zero Tolerance Policy that prohibits all forms of workplace violence and harassment, paving the way for the issuance of national implementing decrees related to the Italian ratification of International Labor Organization Convention No. 190 on the subject.
The work done in previous years, as well as the results obtained in 2021, enable Eni to deal with the most innovative projects while maintaining a solid approach and structured processes on human rights. In Kenya and Congo, for example, the company is conducting an integrated analysis of the socioeconomic and human rights impact of its initiatives to integrate the countries into the biofuel value chain on the local community.
Eni is collaborating with farmers to recover marginal lands that are not in competition with the food chain, such as degraded areas prone to erosion, drought, and pollution, by cultivating crops for energy use, thereby providing income and market access to thousands of farmers in rural areas.
The studies will track several indicators over time, such as the increase in revenue that the system brings to farmers’ lives, as well as proper land management
