Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)

STABILIZE THE CLIMATE - Energy Transition: The goal of EDF's Energy Transition Team is to bend the curve on global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production and use by 2030, cleanly and equitably. We made remarkable progress toward this goal in 2023. To reduce global methane emissions, EDF sought to harness a range of forces with the greatest influence over industry practices: regulation, global markets and providers of capital. EDF equipped stakeholders with data, analysis, expert insights - reinforced with strategic communications - so that they could each use their influence to move the industry towards methane performance and accountability. In the U.S., EDF provided extensive comments and analysis to the EPA, laying the groundwork for enactment and implementation of new comprehensive oil and gas methane regulations. After years of EDF's encouragement and partnership, two of the world's largest liquified natural gas purchasers, Japan's Jera and South Korea's KOGAS, are cooperating to reduce methane emissions among liquified natural gas buyers and producers, while five gas importer-export regions made a pledge to leverage their considerable share of the market to drive emissions reductions. The European Parliament adopted its position on proposed methane regulations. EDF Europe has collaborated with European civil society partners, national NGOs and Think-Tanks to shape the Methane Regulation as it passed through the EU institutions. Finally, leading up to COP28, EDF was a driving force in getting oil and gas companies to commit to dramatically reduce methane emissions. EDF also worked to reduce emissions from global transportation. EDF leveraged its new consultative status at the International Maritime Organization to advocate for rapid decarbonization of the shipping sector. EDF advocacy and analysis also informed the proposed U.S. EPA multi-pollutant standards for new light- and medium-duty vehicles and greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles, in addition to expanded state programs for zero-emission trucks. We also continued to advocate for careful assessment of sustainable aviation fuels and preservation of rigorous environmental standards. Finally, EDF continued work to ensure the smart use of hydrogen. EDF uncovered a promising hydrogen sensor - was prototyped by Aerodyne Research that opens new horizons for operators to track and reduce the amount of hydrogen escaping from their facilities. Additionally, EDF advocated for stronger regulation to address hydrogen emissions in the EU and in the U.S. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm visited our community-centered solar energy project on the island of Culebra in Puerto Rico, where we provided solar PV panels and battery energy storage to 45 low-income households. The solar systems provide more affordable electricity to participants and enable them to keep the power on during frequent outages. This project is serving as a model for resilient community-based clean energy projects in Puerto Rico.

Strengthen People's and Nature's Ability to Thrive - PEOPLE AND NATURE: FROM FORESTS TO FARMS TO COASTS, EDF WORKS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE VITAL ECOSYSTEMS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE, PROMOTE FOOD AND WATER SECURITY AND BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. EDF IS EXPANDING THE USE OF CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES IN THE U.S., EU, CHINA, AND INDIA TO INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION FOR A GROWING POPULATION, RAPIDLY REDUCE POWERFUL POLLUTANTS LIKE METHANE AND NITROUS OXIDE, AND MAKE RURAL COMMUNITIES MORE RESILIENT. IN THE U.S., EDF ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES IN THE NEXT FARM BILL THAT WILL HELP FARMERS AND RANCHERS INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, BETTER WITHSTAND CHANGING WEATHER, AND CREATE RURAL JOBS. GLOBALLY, EDF LAUNCHED THE DAIRY METHANE ACTION ALLIANCE, A HISTORIC ALLIANCE OF SIX OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST FOOD COMPANIES COMMITTING TO HELP REDUCE AND ACCOUNT FOR METHANE EMISSIONS IN THEIR DAIRY SUPPLY CHAINS. EDF'S WATER TEAM HELPED SECURE IMPORTANT STATE-LEVEL POLICY WINS TO IMPROVE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION IN TEXAS, ARIZONA, COLORADO, AND OREGON. IN CALIFORNIA, THREE MAJOR WATER AGENCIES SIGNED LANDMARK NEW AGREEMENTS TO BEGIN USING THE GROUNDWATER ACCOUNTING PLATFORM, AN INNOVATIVE DATA PLATFORM THAT EDF HAS CO-DEVELOPED WITH PARTNERS, AS PART OF THEIR EFFORT TO IMPROVE WATER MANAGEMENT IN AREAS HARD-HIT BY CLIMATE IMPACTS. OPENET, AN ONLINE WATER DATA PLATFORM THAT EDF CO-LEADS, PUBLISHED ITS FIRST-EVER PUBLIC APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE - ENABLING THOUSANDS OF WATER MANAGERS, FARMERS, AND RANCHERS TO BETTER LEVERAGE CRITICAL WATER DATA TO IMPROVE WATER MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. THE COALITION FOR SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE, OF WHICH EDF IS A FOUNDING MEMBER, SUCCESSFULLY HELPED INTRODUCE THE SCIENCE-BASED EQUITABLE AQUACULTURE FOOD ACT, OR SEAFOOD ACT, LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE RIGOROUS STANDARDS FOR OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE AND A HOMEGROWN INDUSTRY IN HEALTHY, MORE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY SEAFOODS, WHILE BENEFITING HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. EDF'S FISHERY SOLUTIONS CENTER, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT PROVIDES FISHERIES SCIENCE AND POLICY ADVICE TO STAKEHOLDERS, LAUNCHED ITS WEBSITE, WHICH INCLUDES A SUITE OF INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND TRAINING MATERIALS SUCH AS THE VIRTUAL FISHERIES ACADEMY. THE WEBSITE IS PART OF THE CENTER'S WORK ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS IN PARTICIPATORY DECISION MAKING THAT SUPPORTS HEALTHY OCEANS AND FEEDS AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES. EDF WORKS WITH MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITIES ACROSS 12 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING PERU, INDONESIA, THE PHILIPPINES, AND CUBA, TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES MANAGE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS. CLIMATE CHANGE IS MAKING FLOODING FROM RIVERS, RAIN, AND THE OCEAN MORE DESTRUCTIVE - MORE THAN 1.8 BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE AT RISK FROM FLOODING, WITH LOW-INCOME AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AT THE MOST RISK. IN AUGUST 2023, EDF CELEBRATED THE START OF THE LONG-AWAITED $2.9 BILLION INITIATIVE TO RECONNECT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE BARATARIA BASIN, THUS TRANSFORMING 21 SQUARE MILES OF DYING WETLANDS INTO A LUSH AND THRIVING ECOSYSTEM. IN NEW YORK, EDF HELPED PASS THE NY BOND ACT, WHICH WILL DELIVER MUCH-NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES FLOOD DISCLOSURE FOR HOMEBUYERS. EDF ALSO HELPED PASS GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION IN LOUISIANA THAT CREATED THE STATE'S FIRST CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER; AND CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES TO ONGOING FEASIBILITY STUDIES IN FLORIDA TO REDUCE FLOOD RISK. IN TROPICAL FORESTS, EDF CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO KEEP FORESTS THRIVING FOR US ALL. EDF ORGANIZED A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS IN COSTA RICA, ECUADOR, AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO BRING TOGETHER INDIGENOUS VOICES AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE OVER THE DESIGN OF HIGH INTEGRITY FOREST CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT DELIVER REAL, LONG-TERM CARBON REDUCTIONS AND SUPPORT FOREST COMMUNITIES RESULTING IN VERSION 2 OF THE TROPICAL FOREST CREDIT INTEGRITY GUIDE. THE LEAF COALITION, THE LARGEST-EVER PUBLIC-PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN TROPICAL FORESTS, CONTINUED TO GROW WITH EDF'S SUPPORT AND IS ON TRACK TO BRING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF HIGH-INTEGRITY FOREST CARBON CREDITS TO MARKET THAT WILL PRESERVE OVER 2.5 MILLION HECTARES FROM EXPECTED DEFORESTATION. EDF IS ALSO WORKING WITH LOCAL TRIBES AND COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS FIRE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES TO IMPROVE FIRE SUPPRESSION STRATEGIES AND BOLSTER RESILIENCE MANAGEMENT IN FIRE THREATENED LANDSCAPES TO SAVE FORESTS FROM CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE.

Core Capacities and Education - EDF Inc. leverages its deep expertise in science and economics to drive sweeping change. To stand the test of time, a solution needs broad support. Therefore, EDF Inc. brings together people to tackle challenges from many perspectives. With EDF Inc.'s wide range of partners - from universities to companies to community organizations - EDF Inc. sparks innovative ideas and brings them to life.

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