- US oil major disregards the elephant in the room: the CO2 emissions of its products (Scope 3), despite the votes of 61% of their shareholders
- The company said it will address Scope 3 later this year
- Response of Follow This, the group of green shareholders whose emission reduction proposal received 61% of votes at the 2021 Chevron AGM
Chevron did not announce emission reduction targets for its products (so-called Scope 3 emissions), despite shareholder pressure, during its Energy Transition Spotlight webcast on Tuesday. The company will address Scope 3 later this year, CEO Mike Wirth said.
At Chevron’s shareholders meeting in May, 61% of the shareholders voted in favor of a proposal calling on the firm “to substantially reduce the emissions generated by the use of its products [Scope 3].” While the company did announce a number of new sustainability initiatives, none of them addressed this crucial concern.
The recent IPCC report couldn’t be more clear: unless there are “immediate, rapid, large-scale reductions in greenhouse gases”, there is no chance of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. “The climate crisis doesn’t allow for any growth in fossil fuels.”
“Without a target to substantially reduce absolute emissions (including Scope 3) by 2030, Chevron’s policies will not satisfy investors that voted for the Follow This proposal in an effort to confront the climate crisis.
“Only clear emission reduction targets will lead to emission reductions and a shift in investments away from fossil fuels to renewables.”
Up to 90% of investments in fossil fuels
Chevron announced plans to spend $10 billion on ‘lower carbon businesses’ in 2022-2027 a mere 10-12% of their anticipated investments for the next 6 years (6 x $14-16 billion as announced earlier).
“A company that continues to spend up to 90% of their investment capital on fossil fuels cannot claim to be part of the energy transition to confront the climate crisis.”
Chevron distracts from the necessity for real emission reductions
The press release elaborated on commercialization opportunities in “renewable fuels, hydrogen and carbon capture”, but the main issue was left unresolved: Chevron will continue to grow their oil and gas business (CFO Pierre Breber, June 24) and continue to ignore their responsibility for the emissions of their products.
“Chevron wants to pursue two incompatible goals: to act on climate and to grow its oil and gas production.”
“We hope Chevron will set meaningful targets for all emissions shortly.”
Carbon offsetting
Carbon offsetting and energy supplies that inevitably generate CO2 emissions should be the last stone of climate policy, not the cornerstone. First, there must be rapid and immediate emission reduction targets, and a clear plan to shift their investments toward renewables. Otherwise, Chevron’s New Energy business plans are merely a distraction from business as usual.
“We hope Chevron will cross the Rubicon on Scope 3 later this year, thereby aligning their climate strategy with the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
