Global Compact Germany Publishes 2005 Yearbook

In its second yearbook “Global Compact Deutschland 2005” the German Network of the UN Global Compact Initiative gives an insight into the involvement by the 29 German member companies. The Volkswagen Group joined the Global Compact in 2002 on the occasion of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. In the yearbook, representatives of industry, politics and civil society discuss the question as to how globalisation can be organised justly and demonstrate routes to sustainable development, using practical examples. The main focus of the publication is formed by the UN Millennium Goals, human rights and the new Governance Structure of the Global Compact.

In its contribution to the yearbook, Volkswagen concentrates on China. The risk of dying in a road accident is higher in China than in any other country. There are 8 deaths on average per 1000 vehicles in the country. The rapid motorisation of society, poor education of drivers and the quality of the roads – the causes of the frequency of accidents are many and varied. Therefore, together with Tonji University, Shanghai, the Volkswagen Group became the first car manufacturer to set up an accident research project in China in 2005. Accidents are recorded and reconstructed with the support of the Chinese authorities in an interdisciplinary team of researchers, doctors and psychologists. “As a major volume manufacturer active in the Chinese market, Volkswagen accepts its obligations and wishes to play its part in cooperation with stakeholders to contribute to improving the situation”, Matthias Rabe, Head of Volkswagen Group Research, explains the project. The company’s involvement also includes the “Volkswagen Experience” driver training sessions and the use of the electronic stability program (ESP) in vehicles for the Chinese market.

At the end of 2005 Volkswagen also participated in the annual summit of the Global Compact in Shanghai. With about 800 leaders of industry and representatives of governments and civil society, the two day summit was the largest event to date to promote industrial development in China which is conscious of its responsibilities and sustainable. There was an intensive stakeholder dialogue in a large number of forums on the topics of international trade, health and safety at the workplace, on municipal involvement and protection of the environment. Dr. Axel Govender, Head of Corporate Health Services of Volkswagen of South Africa, introduced the Group’s aids prevention programme, which has received the Corporate Care Award. The summit also laid the foundations for the further expansion of the ten universal principles of the Global Compact in the upwardly mobile markets of East Asia. In the so-called “Shanghai Declaration”, the participants affirmed their intention to organise their business activities with transparency in view and to contribute to the further development of society.