Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Canadian Solar has limited engagement with climate policies, with broadly positive positions in its advocacy. The company appears to support the transition to a renewables-based energy system.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Canadian Solar has very limited top-line communications on climate change. The company has supported UK and Japan’s 2050 climate neutrality targets in its 2022 Sustainability Report, released in July 2023. InfluenceMap could not find any evidence of the company’s support for government regulation of climate change or the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Canadian Solar demonstrates very limited engagement on climate-related regulations, with a few instances of advocacy on renewable energy policy. In the 2022 Sustainability Report, released in July 2023, the company supported South Korea’s 2030 renewable energy target and the clean energy tax credits in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In November 2022, the company’s submission to the US government on IRA implementation supported tax credits for manufacturing renewable energy components in the US.
Positioning on Energy Transition:Canadian Solar’s engagement on energy mix-related issues remains low. The company’s 2022 Sustainability Report from July 2022 supported the transition to renewable energy in Japan. In Australia, Canadian Solar supported the transition to a lower emission electricity network and integration of solar in the grid, as stated in its 2021 ESG Report, released in July 2022. In July 2018, the company submitted comments to the Australia Energy Market Commission supporting transition to a renewables-based grid.
Industry Association Governance: Canadian Solar discloses a list of its industry association membership in the website, with limited information on its policy engagement through these groups. The company retains memberships to several industry associations demonstrating positive engagement across regions including the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), American Clean Power Association (formerly AWEA), Clean Energy Council and Japan Climate Leaders Partnership (JCLP).