CATL officially joins the United Nations Global Compact

CATL officially joins the United Nations Global Compact

On 10 July, the highly anticipated new energy giant CATL formally joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), becoming the organisation’s first corporate representative from China’s new energy sector. Established in 2000, the UNGC is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, boasting over 20,000 corporate and non-corporate members globally. All members pledge to uphold ten principles across four domains: human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. The organisation also pioneered the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework. CATL’s membership in the UNGC signifies international recognition of its achievements in corporate governance, environmental protection, talent development and other sustainability domains, while representing a significant step in enhancing its global influence within sustainable development.

CATL’s significant move signifies international recognition of its leadership in global sustainability, while also demonstrating the formidable strength of China’s new energy industry. As global attention towards ESG continues to rise, Chinese enterprises are deepening their ESG strategies. In the 2022 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, Chinese corporate participation reached a record high, making China one of the fastest-growing regions globally. The Sustainability Yearbook (China Edition) 2023 evaluates companies within each industry sector that rank in the top 15% globally based on ESG scores. S&P screened 1,590 Chinese companies, ultimately selecting 88 firms across 44 industries for inclusion. Notable inclusions comprise CATL, JD.com, Xiaomi, Meituan, NetEase, Baidu, ZTE Corporation, and Sungrow Power Supply.

As a global leader in new energy solutions, CATL remains steadfast in advancing the development and application of green energy. Joining the United Nations Global Compact will provide CATL with a broader platform to share its experiences and achievements in sustainable development with global stakeholders, while also collaborating with other internationally renowned enterprises to explore pathways for addressing global challenges. Public data indicates that in 2022, CATL implemented 418 energy-saving optimisation projects, reducing emissions by approximately 450,000 tonnes. The proportion of green electricity used throughout the year reached 26.6%, with distributed photovoltaic systems generating 58,000 megawatt-hours annually. In the same year, CATL’s lithium battery sales volume reached 289 GWh. Market research firm SNE data indicates CATL holds a prominent global market share of 37% for power batteries and 43.4% for energy storage batteries. According to its previously announced plans, CATL aims to achieve carbon neutrality in its core operations by 2025 and across its entire value chain by 2035.