To achieve these goals, a greenhouse gas emission reduction trajectory was set for the EDF group’s three scopes. This trajectory includes a 2023 milestone with the following intermediate goals:
- 28 to 30MtCO2 e for the Group’s scope-1 emissions in 2023 (range taking account of post-sanitary crisis scenario uncertainties in particular);
- 23% reduction from 2017 levels of scope-1 and scope-2 emissions, also including non-consolidated asset emissions and emissions from electricity purchased (i.e. not produced) for sale to end customers;
- 10% reduction from 2019 levels of emissions from combustion of gas sold to end customers and 8% reduction of Group-wide scope-3 emissions.
These 2023 and 2030 Group direct and indirect emissions goals were used to determine emission trajectories for all the Group’s business lines and entities (see section 3.1.3 “EDF climate governance”).
3.1.1.1.3 2020: an exceptional year in more ways than one
The sanitary crisis caused a slowdown in global economic activity and energy use in2020, as well as an exceptional fall in greenhouse gas emissions. The Group’s carbon intensity improved due to a sharp fall in production by our fossil fuel-fired power plants (particularly gas-fired facilities) and an increase in renewable production.
This partially offset the fall in low-carbon nuclear production, in part as a result of the sanitary crisis, which had a major impact on maintenance unit outages. Compared to the European electrical sector average, i.e. 275 gCO2 /kWh in 2019 (including France), the EDF group allowed 110Mt of direct CO2 emissions to be avoided every year.
Scope-1 emissions (MtCO2 e) (Key non-financial performance indicator, 2020 indicator subject to reasonable assurance check by KPMG S.A.)
2018 : 36
2019 : 33
2020 : 28
Target 2030 : 25
Key non-financial performance indicator
√ 2020 indicator subject to reasonable assurance check by KPMG S.A.
The methodology for this indicator is set out in detail in section 3.7.2.2 "Details on performance indicators".
Carbon intensity: specific EDF group CO2 emissions from production of electricity and heat (gCO2 /kWh)
2018 : 57
2019 : 55
2020 : 51
Target 2030 :35
Key non-financial performance indicator
√ 2020 indicator subject to reasonable assurance check by KPMG S.A.
The methodology for this indicator is set out in detail in section 3.7.2.2 "Details on performance indicators".
3.1.1.2 Group greenhouse gas (GHG) report
3.1.1.2.1 Industry-leading, long-term and comprehensive carbon compatibility
Because an effective mitigation strategy is impossible without precise knowledge of direct and indirect emissions, The EDF group began publishing a greenhouse emissions report (“GHG report”) as far back as 2010, well ahead of both French and European regulatory requirements. The first EDF SA-wide GHG report was published in 2011 and the first comprehensive Group-wide report was published in 2017.
The EDF group’s GHG report covers emissions of the six Kyoto protocol greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2 O, HFC, PFC, SF6) expressed in CO2 equivalent (CO2e)(1) for all significant items listed by the GHG Protocol(2), ranging from fuel production to employee office life.
The EDF group’s GHG report is subject to third-party verification, covering more than 70% of emissions. EDF improves its approach every year and for the first time in 2020 included all the results in the non-financial performance statement for the reported year(3). Currently, the EDF group publishes one of the most detailed GHG reports of any leading European electricity company, covering its entire value chain.
The EDF group consolidates all the non-financial data, including GHG emissions, of its “fully-consolidated” companies. This means that the emissions of companies over which the Group has financial control are fully consolidated into the Group’s three GHG report scopes. For companies over which the Group does not have financial control, only scope-1 and scope-2 emissions are consolidated into the Group GHG report’s “investment” item (scope-3 category 15), based on the equity method (i.e. by applying a ratio matching the Group’s percent holding in the company).
(1) CO2 e emissions are calculated using the 100-year global warming potentials specified in the 5th IPCC report, i.e. 30 for CH4, 23,500 for SF6 and 265 for N2O.
(2) The GHG Protocol is the carbon compatibility method most widely recognised internationally. Launched in 1998 by the World Resource Institute (WRI) and the World BusinessCouncil for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), it was developed in partnership with businesses, NGOs and governments. It provides a set of resources, tools and data to calculate carbon footprints ( http://www.ghgprotocol.org/)
(3) The EDF group GHG reports may be downloaded from the following address: https://www.edf.fr/nos-engagements/indicateurs-de-developpement-durable/environnemental#bilan-des-emissions-de-gaz-a-effet-de-serre-du-groupe-edf.