Expanding EDF Climate Corps to China

Partnering with leading, global companies to optimize energy efficiency across the supply chain

China’s Energy Challenge

As one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world, China announced its assertive climate commitments in 2014: peaking carbon dioxide emissions around 2030 and increasing the share of non-fossil fuel energy consumption to around 20 percent by 2030. To enable the country to achieve these climate commitments, energy efficiency is key. And, because small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99 percent of the manufacturing sector in China and account for roughly 50 percent of all GHG emissions and pollutants, working with these types of organizations is imperative to bending China’s carbon emissions downward.

Piloting EDF Climate Corps in China

EDF Climate Corps serves as a unique tool to engage and work with these SMEs by leveraging the purchasing power of multinational buyers. As New Balance did in the summer of 2015, multinational companies can sign up to place EDF Climate Corps fellows within the operations of their suppliers. In accelerating energy efficiency projects, EDF Climate Corps can help China catalyze the necessary GHG reductions and curb its energy demand growth.

Since 2014, EDF Climate Corps has placed 13 fellows in China with nine leading companies including: Apple, New Balance, McDonald’s and Walmart. These talented graduate students found tens of millions of dollars in energy savings across retailer supply chains.