Environmental Defense Fund

To preserve the natural systems on which all life depends.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is a leading non-profit organization headquartered in the United States, representing more than 700,000 members.

Since its founding in 1967, EDF has linked science, economics, law, and partnerships with the private sector to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

EDF is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations. Among these rights are clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and flourishing ecosystems. EDF has often found ways to help the environment that also benefit the economy. EDF works directly with business, government, and community groups to forge solutions that make sense for everyone.

In 1991, China’s State Environmental Protection Administration—now the Ministry of Environmental Protection—invited EDF to participate in the country’s first experiment with economic incentives for pollution control. EDF’s work in China has continued for more than 20 years. In 1999, EDF opened an office in Beijing. EDF has since helped launch a series of environmental protection programs in China that explore new approaches to support both environmental protection and economic development. In 2010, EDF expanded its operations to Shanghai.

EDF's China Program has always relied on a combination of economic and market-based strategies to address environmental problems—an approach that takes into account the problems encountered in China’s current stage of economic development and environmental protection. The SO2 Total Emissions Control and Emissions Trading project, begun in 1999, has gradually expanded to six broad initiatives today:

1. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture
2. Strengthening Enforcement of Environmental Protections
3. Creating a Multi-Pollutant Control Strategy for Coal-Fired Power Plants
4. Training (China’s Environment Innovators)
5. Greening China’s Supply Chain
6. Encouraging Public Participation in Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change

EDF's China Program is carried out through a Joint Program Offi ce set up with the China Association for NGO Cooperation, which reports to the Ministry of Commerce and was recorded at the NGO Administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.