Universal Registration Document 2022

 3.1.3.4.2.2 The EDF group is particularly active in the EU

The EDF group participates both in its own name (through its permanent office in Brussels) and through Eurelectric, the association representing the ordinary interests of the electricity industry in Europe. The EDF group’s commitment to a robust EU greenhouse gas trading system and to an ambitious long-term climate and energy strategy led by the European Commission is recognised by all stakeholders, including NGOs such as InfluenceMap ⁽¹⁾ which has repeatedly ranked EDF as one of the companies most actively promoting climate issues in EU negotiations ⁽²⁾. EDF engages in transparent, responsible lobbying (see section 3.3.2 “Ethics, compliance, and human rights”).

3.1.3.4.2.3 The EDF group fully supports the European “Green Deal”

During his Chairmanship, Jean-Bernard Lévy has worked to promote the Green Deal as a social, industrial, and strategic opportunity for all Europeans structured around four pillars; adopting an affordable, low-carbon electric lifestyle whilst combatting discriminatory energy taxation; ensuring that a full range of technology with low- carbon emissions contributes to profitable decarbonisation, encouraging the deployment of renewable energies, smart grids, and the use of electrolytic hydrogen; demonstrating the resilience and flexibility of electricity as a key asset for the Green Deal, whilst promoting smart integration and highlighting the benefits of digitalisation.

Support for the RePowerEU plan to accelerate the energy transition and reinforce energy security

In his capacity as President of the EURELECTRIC association, Jean-Bernard Levy sent a letter to all EU Heads of State and governments ahead of the meeting of the European Council in March 2022 to encourage the European Union to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and move more quickly towards becoming carbon- neutral.

EDF joined the appeal on the part of 120 leaders coordinated by the NGO Corporate Leaders Group EU in May 2022 calling on the EU to strengthen energy security and resilience by hastening the green transition through the vector of the RePowerEU plan.

3.1.3.4.3 On an international level

As the world’s leading producer of electricity without direct CO₂ ⁽³⁾ emissions, the EDF group is one of the leading non-state actors in international discussions on climate change.

Race To Zero

In February 2020, the EDF group joined the “Business Ambition for 1.5 degrees: our only future” initiative, thereby joining the United Nations Race To Zero ⁽⁴⁾ movement, which seeks to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest (see section 3.1.1.1.1)

Promoting the coal phase-out

Since 2017, the EDF group has been engaged in the Powering Past Coal Alliance ⁽⁵⁾,which promotes the phasing out of coal in EU countries by 2030 and in the rest of the world by 2050 in the wake of the Paris Agreement. Since 2021, the EDF group lent its support to the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement ⁽⁶⁾ launched during the UK presidency of the COP26 summit; this statement has already been signed by 23 countries.

Promoting fair carbon pricing

EDF supports the Carbon Pricing Leadership Group (CPLG) initiative: that brings together businesses, governments, academics, and NGOs to promote carbon

pricing as a means of achieving a low-carbon world economy. At the Climate Action Summit organised by the Secretary General of the United Nations in September 2019, the EDF group signed the CPLC’s appeal recommending a price per tonne of carbon of $40-$80 by 2020 and $50-$100 by 2030, in line with the 2017 Stern-Stiglitz report, in order to enable countries to abide by the Paris Agreement.

Aiming for 1.5°C

EDF is one of the 200 companies which joined the We Mean Business association appeal on the occasion of the COP27 summit in November 2022, calling on leaders to maintain their commitment to keeping global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C and act swiftly to implement this commitment.

The EDF group at the COP27

The EDF group was present at the COP27 summit held at Sharm El Sheikh, from 6 to 20 November 2022. EDF was represented by a small delegation consisting of representatives of the Impact Department, the International Division, the DPNT and EDF Renewables. This allowed the Group to be among those taking the floor to address strategic issues such as nuclear energy, hydropower, renewables, and developments in the electricity market on half a dozen occasions.

3.1.3.4.4 Acting in a consistent manner with external stakeholders

The EDF group set up specific governance to ensure the consistency of the positions promoted by the Group. The EDF group makes sure not to support initiatives promoting positions not in line with its own aims in terms of combating climate change. EDF ceased to be a member of Business Europe on 1 November 2020.

Development and validation of Group positions

All the Group’s key positions on climate issues are approved by the Public Authorities Relations Management Committee, whilst preserving the management independence of network operators. This Committee, co-chaired by the General Secretary and the Group Senior Executive Vice-President in charge of Innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategy, meets every week and features, among others, the Public Affairs Division, the European Affairs Division, the Regulation Division, and the Legal Affairs Division.

3.1.3.4.5 Raising awareness and providing information to the general public

See also section 3.5.4.10 “Responsible communication”.

3.1.3.5 Involvement of employees and executive officers in carbon neutrality

The EDF group implements actions to enable all its employees and corporate officers to adopt the Group’s raison d’être and climate commitments. These actions involve employee training ⁽⁷⁾, remuneration and collective intelligence.

3.1.3.5.1 Remuneration linked to combatting climate change

Executive officer bonuses for 2022

The chosen climate criterion is the carbon intensity ⁽⁸⁾ of the Group’s heat and electricity production, corresponding to 30% of the Group share ⁽⁹⁾. See section 3.5.4.8 “CSR and remuneration policy for group executives”.