EDF Energy pledges will deliver sustainability benefits

A review by Two Tomorrows of EDF Energy’s revised sustainability commitments has concluded that the company has set itself a suite of challenges that, once achieved, will deliver clear sustainability benefits.

We have also confirmed that the targets set for each of the commitments properly reflect the company’s new structure and in particular the challenges faced by the nuclear generation side of the business.

EDF Energy revised its previous sustainability commitments following its integration of British Energy. The 18 commitments cover reducing carbon and waste, delivering low-carbon nuclear responsibly, helping customers, building a world-class culture and serving communities. It believes that its pledges go far beyond anything promised by any other energy company.

We carried out a thorough review of the rationale, accuracy and supporting evidence for each of the commitments. This involved interviews with the management team responsible for the development and measurement processes.

EDF Energy's core commitment is to reduce the intensity of CO2 emissions from its electricity production. It is targeting a reduction of almost 70 per cent on its original baseline - going beyond the 60 per cent target it set itself in 2007. In our review, we commented that the revised target is particularly positive as EDF Energy achieved a considerable CO2 intensity reduction through the integration of British Energy. We recommended that the target be reviewed annually.

EDF Energy Sustainability Commitments, including our review statement (PDF, 2MB)