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Back to Our Sustainability Approach

Governance

Strong corporate governance and leadership keep us aligned to our commitment to a sustainable energy future. Ameren has established robust risk management and corporate governance systems to identify, evaluate and manage the risks and opportunities associated with environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability matters.

Board Governance

Our ESG approach starts from the top. Ameren’s diverse, highly skilled Board of Directors provides strong oversight for all significant enterprise risks and business strategies, including those related to sustainability and ESG. Our board committees are responsible for specific ESG matters:

  • Nuclear, Operations and Environmental Sustainability Committee: Responsible for company operations, including regulatory, reputation, business continuity and environmental sustainability risks, such as those related to climate change and water management. Ameren's Chief Sustainability and Diversity Officer provides several updates a year with discussions including, among other things, strategic alignment of sustainability efforts with corporate strategy, current state of sustainability program, targets and goals, and the company's plans to achieve stated goals.
  • Human Resources Committee: Responsible for executive compensation practices and policies, including integrating these with ESG measures. This committee also oversees all human capital management practices and policies, such as diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: Responsible for key corporate governance policies and procedures, including board compensation, as well as stakeholder engagement, public affairs matters and charitable and political contributions.
  • Audit and Risk Committee: Responsible for enterprise risk management processes, including strategic, operational and cybersecurity risks. Ameren’s board is made up of members from many different backgrounds and perspectives, and 57% are women or people of racial or ethnic diversity.
Empty boardroom.

Management Level Governance

Three core groups at Ameren work together to ensure we are fully planning for, executing and evaluating our sustainability efforts.

  • Executive Leadership Team: Senior executives across all business segments oversee all aspects of ESG matters, including, but not limited to, risk management, strategic planning and enterprise performance.
  • Chief Sustainability and Diversity Officer: Ensures the company’s environmental stewardship, positive social impact, robust corporate governance and ongoing sustainable growth initiatives are integrated in the corporate strategy.
  • Sustainability Executive Steering Committee: A cross-enterprise group of leaders that evaluates the company’s ESG approach, provides leadership team input, reviews and approves key ESG disclosures and initiatives and champions ESG efforts in their respective functions across the company.

Read more about other important governance topics, such as political contribution accountability and cybersecurity, in our ESG investor presentation.

 

Electric line workers.

Creating Value

Shareholders provide Ameren with a portion of the capital needed to upgrade and replace aging infrastructure to keep service reliable for our customers, which is why we are focused on delivering top quartile total shareholder returns among our utility peer group.

We also focus on creating value for the region we serve through economic development initiatives, including business incentive programs, employing local people and partnering with local suppliers, whenever possible. For example, Ameren spent $900 million with local suppliers in 2021 to support our Missouri and Illinois economies.

 

 

Investors Resources

Additional resources about the corporate governance role in ESG are available on our investor website.

ESG Overview

Stakeholder Engagement

Shareholders provide Ameren with a portion of the capital needed to upgrade and replace aging infrastructure to keep service reliable for our customers, which is why we are focused on delivering top quartile total shareholder returns among our utility peer group.

We also focus on creating value for the region we serve through economic development initiatives, including business incentive programs, employing local people and partnering with local suppliers, whenever possible. For example, Ameren spent $900 million with local suppliers in 2021 to support our Missouri and Illinois economies.

Ameren provides safe, reliable, affordable and cleaner energy that is foundational to the well-being and security of millions of people. Our ESG-related risk assessments always consider any impacts and benefits to our customers. We work hard to be transparent with our customers through frequent communication and by reporting on our sustainability progress.
Ameren operations provide reliable jobs and contribute to the economy of our region and country. Our employees are important stakeholders and contributors to our commitments to sustainable and equitable business.
Ameren is an investor-owned utility. We consider our investors in our ESG efforts because they have a vested interest in our ability to operate as a sustainable company, and environmental issues are increasingly gaining attention by large investment institutions. We consider our investors by assessing risks associated with our operations, while also providing a fair return. We dedicate significant time and resources to remain transparent with our investors by participating in several sustainability disclosure frameworks.
Local communities are always considered in our decision-making, as these communities represent the customers and employees that are so critical to our continued safe and sustainable operations. By listening to the needs of our communities, we can better deliver energy in a reliable and affordable way, as well as support a better quality of life for the people living there.
Ameren includes suppliers in our ESG-related risk assessments. It is important to stay abreast of how our shared natural resources are used by our suppliers, how we support their long-term business sustainability, and how we can be good partners on the ESG matters impacting our region. Ameren is a member of the Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance, which leads the industry in enhancing and promoting supply chain sustainable practices across utilities and suppliers.
Ameren regularly meets with state and federal regulatory agencies, including the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, US Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, regional watershed groups (Missouri River), along with local and regional non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to stay updated on regulations and best practices.
We work hard to remain aware of external public opinions related to our operations and business. We engage with NGOs on ESG-related issues, such as our coal combustion residuals operations and dry-ash handling, as they can provide valuable perspective on limiting impacts to the environment, landowners and communities.
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