OBB-Holding

ÖBB- does not disclose activity data for its passenger and goods rail and road modes. It only published emission intensities for 2017-2019 and these are not split between modes. This data is insufficient to provide a meaningful assessment of its historic emissions intensity trend. However, the company has made good progress in the electrification of 73% of the its railway lines and plans to increase electrification to 89% by 2035. The company will replace over 400 rail and road vehicles with electric or hydrogen-powered ones and will increase its Nightjet fleet to offer passengers more comfortable train services and promote modal shift form high emitting modes.

The company has developed a low-carbon transition plan, covering strategies for rail line electrification, research and development of hydrogen and battery road vehicles and in-house renewable energy generation. However, ÖBB did not conduct climate scenario analysis to inform its transition plan and ensure the plan’s ambition is sufficient for a 1.5°C pathway. It is unclear where responsibility for climate change governance lies in the company, and there is no evidence that ÖBB incentivises low-carbon performance through executive compensation.

ÖBB has invested in research and development (R&D) of low-carbon vehicles, specifically hydrogen trains, hydrogen fuel-infrastructure, and battery-powered buses. However, the company does not disclose what proportion of its R&D expenditure is invested in low-carbon vehicles and energies. The company should ensure that a significant proportion of its R&D investment is in low-carbon vehicles and fuel development.

ÖBB has set a target to reach net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 2030 and scope 3 by 2050. ÖBB has a robust decarbonisation strategy with interim quantitative targets with intervals of not less than five years until 2030 for rail line electrification and low-carbon vehicles.

ÖBB aims to raise the degree of rail line electrification from 73% to 89% by 2035. By 2030 it will replace all the ÖBB diesel fleet with alternative drives (around 400 road vehicles). ÖBB plans to increase its own renewable energy generation to 40%, advancing photovoltaics and wind power.

For its road fleet ÖBB has worked to increase the proportion of electric vehicles to 10% in 2021. The company is investing in R&D of hydrogen and battery vehicles and photovoltaic renewable energy production. For its rail operations, the company is working on modal shift through rail line electrification.

ÖBB’s strategy and targets suggest it is now committed to the low-carbon transition. However, the company does not disclose enough emissions data to meaningfully assess its 1.5°C pathway alignment.

Although ÖBB has a transition plan with clear long-term and intermediate targets, there is no evidence of how its low-carbon transition is integrated into its management structure. Poor disclosure and data availability undermine the company’s low-carbon business models and net-zero targets.

No evidence was found of the company’s commitment to social dialogue or of the categories of stakeholders the company engages with on a just transition. Furthermore, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s ongoing social dialogue and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders.

No evidence was found of the company undertaking low-carbon transition planning to mitigate the social impacts of the transition on workers, affected stakeholders and its business relationships. Additionally, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s engagement in social dialogue or engagement with stakeholders in its just transition planning.

No public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to create and support access to green and decent jobs as part of the low-carbon transition. Moreover, no evidence was found of the company’s action to promote these jobs in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Additionally, no relevant disclosure was found of the company’s assessment of employment dislocation risks.

The company has a commitment to reskill and upskill workers affected by the low-carbon transition. However, no relevant disclosure was found of a process for identifying skills gaps for workers and affected stakeholders in the context of the transition. Furthermore, the company can increase disclosure on specific measures taken to provide reskill and upskilling, training and education opportunities to workers and affected stakeholders, and on measures taken to embed equality of opportunity for women and vulnerable groups in these actions.

No relevant disclosure was found to show if the company identifies impacts of the low-carbon transition on social protection for workers and affected stakeholders, nor how it contributes to social protection. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company expects its business relationships to contribute to the social protection of their workers and affected stakeholders.

No relevant disclosure was found to show how the company identifies any misalignment of its lobbying activities with policies and regulations that support the just transition, nor of the measures it takes to address misalignment. Furthermore, no evidence was found that the company lobbies for policies and regulations for green and decent job creation; retention, education and reskilling; and social protection for workers.

No policies or commitments of the company related to respect for human rights were found in the public domain. This includes the necessary policies and systems by which the company can ensure respect for basic human rights in its operations and supply chain.

The company discloses some workforce diversity indicators, including the gender of its workforce by employee category and the company sets time-bound targets for increasing gender equality. No other relevant evidence of the company’s policies or commitments related to key decent work issues were found in the public domain. These issues include the provision of secure, safe and healthy workplaces, where workers are fairly remunerated and have a meaningful say in decision-making.

The company has a policy prohibiting bribery and corruption. However, no other relevant policies or commitments of the company related to key ethical business topics were found in the public domain. This includes ensuring ethical business conduct throughout its operations and in the relationships with business partners on topics such as personal data protection, tax, bribery and corruption, and lobbying and political engagement.