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Suez Environnement
Suez Environnement is responsible for the water business sector
of GDF Suez, formerly Suez. Suez’ activity in the water sector has a
long tradition. It has been – and still is – the target of criticism and
opposition. Here are some examples of this:
• When Suez’ contracts do not provide the hoped-for returns
and when contracted obligations cost more than the
corporation wants to pay, Suez burdens governments in
developing countries with expensive, cumbersome legal
actions and uses these threatening legal actions to pressure
governments during contract negotiation processes.
• Suez “redlines” poor neighbourhoods by negotiating
contracts that attempt to avoid carrying out water system
renovations and extensions to certain areas, thereby denying
certain communities clean and affordable water.
• Suez repeatedly signs contracts and then attempts to avoid its
contractual obligations, i.e. investments in the maintenance
and expansion of water systems in developing countries,
causing environmental contamination and social tensions.
• Suez does not respect the UN proclamations on the human
right to water – for example, in developing countries, by
cutting off water to low-income families who cannot afford to
pay – despite professing that “ethical values provide the natural
underpinnings of the Group’s ideals, which are put into practice
daily”.
• Suez files lawsuits against developing countries in the
World Bank’s affiliated court, furthering the indebtedness of
developing nations. These nations are already saddled with
staggering debt and cannot afford to subsidise one of the
world’s largest water corporations.
• In 1996, a top executive of Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux of
France was sent to prison, along with government officials in
Grenoble, for bribery in connection with a contract award.
• In 1998, Suez subsidiary United Water won a $21-million
contract in Atlanta, where local officials and residents have
since complained about broken fire hydrants, slow service
and brown water with flecks of debris. In 2000, United Water
executives in several states donated more than $10,000 to the
brother of Atlanta Mayor, Bill Campbell, who was running
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