EDF
What do our scores mean?
The organizational score represents the degree to which the organization influencing climate policy and legislation. Corporations also have relationship scores reflecting their links with influencers like trade associations. Both are combined to place the corporation in a performance band. Full details can be found here.
Engagement Intensity
The engagement intensity (EI) is a metric of the extent to which the company is engaging on climate change policy matters, whether positively or negatively. It is a number from 0 (no engagement at all) to 100 (full engagement on all queries/data points). Clearly energy companies are more affected by climate regulations and will have a higher EI than, for example retailers. So an organization’s score should be looked at in conjunction with this metric to gauge the amount of evidence we are using in each case as a basis for scoring. On our scale, an EI of more than 35 indicates a relatively large amount of climate policy engagement.
Relationship Score, December 2020
A new batch of industry associations has been uploaded onto the InfluenceMap system and the relationship scores recalculated accordingly.
Updated terminology, February 2021
We adjusted the terminology used to describe the queries running down the left-hand side of our scoring matrix and added additional explanatory text to the info-boxes. This has no impact on the scores and methodology. It has been done following user feedback to improve clarity.
- Details of Organization Score
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What do the 0,1,2 and NSs, NAs mean?
Each cell in the organization's matrix presents a chance for us to assess each data source against our column of climate change policy queries. We score from -2 to 2, with negative scores representing evidence of obstructive influence. "NA" means "not applicable" and "NS" means "not scored" - that is we did not find any evidence either way. In both cases, the cell's weighting is re-distributed over others. Red and blue cells represent highly interesting negative or positive influence respectively. Full details can be found here.
- Details of Relationship Score
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What is the Relationship Score
A corporation, as well as its organizational score will have a relationship score. It is computed by aggregating the organizational scores of the Influencers (trade bodies etc.) it has relationships with, weighted by both the strength of these relationships and the relative importance of the Influencers towards climate change policy. Full details can be found here.
QUERIES
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DATA SOURCES | |||||||
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Main Web Site
The main organizational Web site of the company and its direct links to major affiliates and attached documents. |
Social Media
We search other media and sites funded or controlled by the organization, such as social media (Twitter, Facebook) and direct advertising campaigns of the organization. |
CDP Responses
We assess and score responses to two questions from CDP's climate change information request (12.3 a & 12.3c) related to political influence questions (currently these are not numerically scored by the CDP process). |
Legislative Consultations
Comments from the entity being scored on governmental regulatory consultation processes, including those obtained by InfluenceMap through Freedom of Information requests. |
Media Reports
Here we search in a consistent manner (the organization name and relevant query search terms) a set of web sites of representing reputable news or data aggregations. Supported by targeted searches of proprietary databases. |
CEO Messaging
Here we search in a consistent manner (the CEO/Chairman, organization name and relevant query search terms) a set of web sites of representing reputable news or data aggregations. Supported by targeted searches of proprietary databases. |
Financial Disclosures
We search 10-K and 20-F SEC filings where available, and non US equivalents where not. . |
EU Register
Information provided by to the voluntary EU Transparency Register. |
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Communication of Climate Science
Is the organization transparent and clear about its position on climate change science? |
2
|
2
|
NA |
1
|
NS |
2
|
NS | NA |
Alignment with IPCC on Climate Action
Is the organization supporting the science-based response to climate change as set out by the IPCC? (the IPCC) |
2
|
1
|
NA |
1
|
0
|
1
|
NS | NA |
Supporting the Need for Regulations
To what extent does the organization express the need for regulatory intervention to resolve the climate crisis? |
0
|
0
|
NS |
1
|
NS |
1
|
NS | NA |
Support of UN Climate Process
Is the organization supporting the UN FCCC process on climate change? |
1
|
1
|
NA |
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
NA |
Transparency on Legislation
Is the organisation transparent about its positions on climate change legislation/policy and its activities to influence it? |
0
|
NA |
1
|
NA | NA | NA | NS | NA |
Carbon Tax
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: carbon tax. |
2
|
NS | NS |
1
|
2
|
1
|
NS | NA |
Emissions Trading
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: emissions trading. |
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
NS | NA |
Energy and Resource Efficiency
Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: energy efficiency policy, standards, and targets |
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
NS | NS | NA |
Renewable Energy
Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: Renewable energy legislation, targets, subsidies, and other policy |
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
NS | NA |
Energy Transition & Zero Carbon Technologies
Is the organization supporting an IPCC-aligned transition of the economy away from carbon-emitting technologies, including supporting relevant policy and legislative measures to enable this transition? |
1
|
1
|
NS |
1
|
1
|
0
|
NS | NA |
GHG Emission Regulation
Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: GHG emission standards and targets. Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: Standards, targets, and other regulatory measures directly targeting Greenhouse Gas emissions |
1
|
2
|
NS |
1
|
0
|
2
|
NS | NA |
Disclosure on Relationships
Is the organization transparent about its involvement with industry associations that are influencing climate policy, including the extent to which it is aligned with these groups on climate? |
-1
|
NS |
2
|
NA | NA | NA | NS | NA |

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior executive of EDF is on the committee for Mutations technologiques et impacts sociétaux
Pascale Dumas

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A Senior Executive of EDF is a Member of the MEDEF Finance Committee
Robert Durdilly

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior executive of EDF is on the committee for Mutations technologiques et impacts sociétaux
Pascale Dumas

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A Senior Executive of EDF is a Member of the MEDEF Finance Committee
Robert Durdilly

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
InfluenceMap Comment:
EDF is an indirect member of BusinessEurope through MEDEF

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
InfluenceMap Comment:
EDF is a partner company in the Corporate Advisory and Support Group

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
InfluenceMap Comment:
EDF is an indirect member of BusinessEurope through MEDEF

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
InfluenceMap Comment:
EDF is a partner company in the Corporate Advisory and Support Group

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
EDF is an indirect member of MEDEF through the Association Française du Gaz
not specified

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A Senior Executive of EDF was a Member of the MEDEF Finance Committee
Robert Durdilly

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
EDF is an indirect member of MEDEF through the Association Française du Gaz
not specified

InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A Senior Executive of EDF was a Member of the MEDEF Finance Committee
Robert Durdilly
How to Read our Relationship Score Map
In this section, we depict graphically the relationships the corporation has with trade associations, federations, advocacy groups and other third parties who may be acting on their behalf to influence climate change policy. Each of the columns above represents one relationship the corporation appears to have with such a third party. In these columns, the top, dark section represents the strength of the relationship the corporation has with the influencer. For example if a corporation's senior executive also held a key role in the trade association, we would deem this to be a strong relationship and it would be on the far left of the chart above, with the weaker ones to the right. Click on these grey shaded upper sections for details of these relationships. The middle section contains a link to the organization score details of the influencer concerned, so you can see the details of its climate change policy influence. Click on the middle sections for for details of the trade associations. The lower section contains the organization score of that influencer, the lower the more negatively it is influencing climate policy.
Climate Lobbying Overview: EDF seems to take predominantly positive positions on climate change policy, with high engagement on a range of key policy streams, with particularly strong support for the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). However, the company retains active membership of associations lobbying negatively on climate policy such as MEDEF and Eurogas.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: EDF supported limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C on its corporate website in 2021, and in its 2019 Universal Registration Document stated support for the European Green Deal. In a presentation in 2020 the CEO stated that the goals of carbon neutrality in France and Europe are its “raison d’être.” EDF seems to support government regulation to respond to climate change: in feedback on the 2030 Climate Target Plan in 2020, EDF advocated that policies at European and national level become aligned with the climate neutrality objective. However, in its 2019 Universal Registration Document the company suggested that changes to climate policy could hinder the group’s development, and in its 2019 Sustainable Development Indicators report supported the need to maintain voluntary action on reducing emissions.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: EDF appears to strongly support reforms of the EU ETS. In 2020, in feedback on the EU roadmap to update the ETS, advocating for amendments to mechanisms such as the Linear Reduction Factor to increase emissions reductions. In response to the 2030 Climate Target Plan in 2020, EDF supported the extension of the ETS to the maritime sector, and conditionally supported the extension to the road and buildings sectors in tandem with existing national policies under the Effort Sharing Regulation. The group stated support for a carbon price floor in the ETS in its 2019 Universal Registration Document.
In an annual report on the 2019 European Affairs Division, EDF appeared to support various energy efficiency legislative measures in Europe, including the Renovation Wave, the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. In response to the EU consultation on a Renewable Financing Mechanism in 2020, the company advocated for support mechanisms to increase the deployment of renewable energy sources across the EU. Responding to the EU’s 2030 Climate Target Plan in 2020, EDF strongly supported an increased emissions reduction target of 55% and supported emissions standards to reduce emissions in the transportation sector. In feedback on the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) Amendment Roadmap in 2020, EDF supported the continuation of national policies under the ESR alongside the ETS.
Positioning on Energy Transition: EDF strongly supports the transition of the energy mix. In response to the roadmap on the revision of the Trans-European Energy Infrastructure (TEN-E) regulation supporting the electrification of buildings, transportation and industry and advocating against the construction of natural gas infrastructure. In an annual report on the 2019 European Affairs Division, EDF supported the decarbonization of the energy sector, and in feedback on the EU Climate Law the company advocated for the removal of fossil fuel subsidies.
Industry Association Governance: EDF, in a 2019 annual report on the European Affairs Division, disclosed a list of European trade associations of which it is a member, but did not describe their positions on climate policy, nor how EDF influences the groups. Despite its membership of WindEurope and SolarPower Europe, associations which have supported EU climate policy, EDF is also a member of Business Europe, Eurogas, and is an active member of MEDEF, who appear to aggressively oppose various strands of climate and energy policy. The company has not as of February 2021 published a report regarding misalignment of positions on climate policy.