Enabling a sustainable future
Sustainable business practices are quickly becoming a competitive necessity as more nations, organizations and corporations commit to net zero by 2050. Find out more about our targets and how we’re evolving to support Canadian businesses transition to a low-carbon economy.
Read this EDC Economics report on the challenges and opportunities in this key market.
Find out how environmental, social and governance practices can shape the future growth of your business.
The challenge of sustainability is that the environment is an exhaustible resource and we are living beyond our means. As an export credit agency, we understand that the environment and the economy are inextricably linked and that we have a significant role to play when it comes to both, including:
Sustainability is too important and complex to pursue alone. We believe collaboration is the key to achieving the tangible results the world needs, and we aim to be a key partner to our customers, peers and stakeholders across the trade ecosystem.
More than a decade ago, we began our journey to make responsible and sustainable business practices a priority, both for our business and for our customers. We know there's no finish line when it comes to sustainability. It’s a long-term commitment to constantly improve and progress.
Issued an updated Environmental and Social Risk Management Policy, that expanded on our environmental and social commitments.
Cleantech identified as a corporate priority.
Became the first Canadian financial institution to issue a green bond.
Began measuring and disclosing our annual contribution to the Government of Canada’s climate finance commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Publicly committed to no longer financing thermal coal power plants. Helped facilitate more than $1 billion in cleantech exports for the first time.
Became the first export credit agency and first Canadian Crown corporation to declare support for the Task Force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations.
Established our first dedicated Climate Change Policy and, in our 2018 Annual Report, published our first climate-related disclosure.
Published details of our first target to reduce the carbon intensity of our lending portfolio and published our due diligence framework. Introduced TCFD-aligned disclosure requirements for customers in the oil and gas sector.
Fully implemented our Climate Change Policy and became the first export credit agency to commit to net zero emissions by 2050.
Released our Sustainable Bond Framework, which was the first such framework in North America to include transition proceeds. Set sustainable finance and science-based climate targets to be achieved by 2030, in line with our commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Published our updated Climate Change Policy.
Genecis utilizes bacteria to convert food waste into PHA plast
G2V, a cleantech company revolutionizing the aerospace and food industries with light technology.
Canadian company finds ways to reduce pollution, as global cities strive to reduce emissions.
Measuring and monitoring our performance is key to understanding where we’re doing well, where we need to improve, and what we want to achieve in the future. Today, we're one of the largest financiers of the cleantech sector in Canada and continue to successfully reduce exposure to our most carbon-intensive sectors, but we need to keep improving. Details on our results and plans are available in our integrated annual report report and accompanying.
Cleantech business facilitated in 2022
Reduction in exposure to our six most carbon-intensive sectors since 2018
Climate finance provided in developing countries in 2022
EDC is guided by a number of agreements and standards that form the foundation of our view of best practices when it comes to environmental issues, such as the Equator Principles, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials. We’re also a contributing member of organizations setting the standard for sustainable, responsible business such as the Berne Union, Powering Past Coal Alliance and the Equator Principles.
Explore policies, reports and other reference materials related to environmental practices at EDC.
Provides the strategic foundation of our commitments to address climate-related risks and opportunities through measurement, engagement, green financing, risk management systems and reporting.
Outlines how our policy commitments are integrated into our environmental and social risk assessment processes.
An update on our climate risks, opportunities and net zero commitment.
EDC’s overarching policy that sets out our commitments and approaches for environmental and social risk management, including our commitments and approaches when considering transactions.
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