SUEZ is a member of the Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI - institute for sustainable development and international relations). Created in 2001, this association was in the form of a Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique (GIS - scientific interest group) for an initial two year period. IDDRI is now an association constituted under France's law of 1901. Its new statutes were adopted at the constituting General Assembly, on 22 April 2003.
The association is made up of founder members, active members (research bodies, labor unions, NGOs, economic players and local authorities) and honorary members.
The association's Board is chaired by Daniel Lebègue, former director of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (state-owned financial institution).
The Board is assisted by a scientific council made up of international scientific personalities and chaired by Claude Henry. Researchers and other personalities are associated with the institute's work on a regular basis.
The IDDRI is run by a team of 10 people with the support of a management council. The association has four main objectives, to:
act as a ‘think tank' for the preparation of international decisions and for expert communities involved in these processes, and thus make a contribution to build a more equitable and more effective world governance.
bring together knowledge and expertise on the major international aspects of sustainable development, especially those that are controversial, and to lead to forward looking and collaborative thinking so as to anticipate the issues of tomorrow and address them dispassionately;
reinforce scientific communities working on sustainable development, by promoting research and multi-disciplinary expertise in new areas;
provide timely information to decision makers and economic and social players who will thus, when needed, be able to draw on a range of opinions proposals and scenarios that have the soundest possible scientific basis.
IDDRI forms part of an international network of institutions and experts sharing the same concerns.
In 2004, IDDRI created the IDDRI foundation to finance long-term projects. SUEZ is one of the sponsors of the foundation.
