Schneider Electric acclaimed for corporate leadership on climate change by CDP

Schneider Electric has been awarded a position on the Climate A List by CDP, the international not-for-profit that drives sustainable economies. It is the only company of its industry to get an A grade for six years in a row — a recognition of its commitments to sustainability and emissions reduction.

“We are proud to join this year again the group of companies integrating the highly recognised Climate A list of CDP,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chairman and CEO, Schneider Electric. “Schneider Electric is the only company of its industry to get an A grade every year for six years. This is an acknowledgement of our strategy of driving innovation at every level for sustainability. There is a tangible connection between sustainability and business performance. We are committed to providing innovative solutions that address the energy paradox: balancing our planet’s carbon footprint with the irrefutable human right to quality energy.”

The Climate A List is released in CDP’s ‘Out of the starting blocks: Tracking progress on corporate climate action’ report. The report, which establishes the baseline for corporate climate action, reveals that global corporations have started the transition to a low-carbon economy and some are already capitalising on the opportunities this affords. 193 ‘A list’ companies appear on the list, which has been produced at the request of 827 investors with assets of US$100 trillion. Only 9% of the companies who submit their annual climate disclosures to CDP for independent assessment are granted a position on the Climate A List. The companies appearing on this list have thus been identified as leading in their efforts and actions to combat climate change in the past CDP reporting year. Companies’ progress on reducing emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement will be tracked against this baseline in future annual reports.

CDP’s chief executive officer, Paul Simpson, said: “We congratulate the 193 A List companies that are leading the charge towards our low-carbon future. Companies are key actors in enabling the global economy to achieve its new climate goals, and the leadership of this group points the way for others to take bold action and capitalise on the many opportunities that await.”

Schneider Electric is listed in various major sustainability indices; not just the CDP Climate A List, but also the Dow Jones Sustainability World & Europe Indices and the World’s Most Ethical Companies. This confirms the commitment of the group, which measures its efforts with its own Planet & Society Barometer — the company sustainable development scorecard. Moreover, last November, Schneider Electric took 10 new commitments, as part of the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21), around not only its products and solutions but also its R&D and supply chain, in order to make the company and its ecosystem neutral in the next 15 years.

The Climate A List, along with the climate scores of all companies publicly taking part in CDP’s climate change program this year, is available on CDP’s website.