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Greenhouse gas emissions
In 2012 we obtained limited assurance of our 2011 direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions data from facilities we operate.
Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHGs)
The direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from facilities we operate - opens in new window were 74 million tonnes on a CO2-equivalent basis in 2011, a decrease of around 3% from 2010.
The main reasons for this slight drop were divestments in our Downstream business and reduced flaring in Nigeria.
The indirect GHG emissions from the energy we purchased (electricity, heat and steam) were 10 million tonnes on a CO2 equivalent basis in 2011, the same as in 2010.
As our business grows and production becomes more energy intensive, we expect the direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from facilities we operate to rise in the coming years.
This data is based on direct emissions and includes all companies and joint ventures where we are the operator. For information on the limitations of our GHG data see the About our GHG data tab.
We have achieved external verification of our 2011 direct and indirect GHG data from facilities we operate.
2010 direct GHG emissions data was updated from 75 to 76 million tonnes following recalculation of the data.
The new 2010 Base Year numbers in 2011 were 73 million tonnes direct and 9 million tonnes energy indirect GHG emissions on a CO2 equivalent basis. Adjustments were made for our major installations in accordance with the requirements of ISO14064-1.
See About our GHG data tab for more details.
Download the Petroleum Industry Guidelines for Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions - opens in new window
Footnote: This new edition of the Petroleum Industry Guidelines of May 2011, (API, IPIECA, OGP) has revised chapters on organizational boundaries, references to scope 1,2 and 3 emissions and uncertainty.
Shell and the Carbon Disclosure Project
Read more about our approach to climate change in our public response to the Carbon Disclosure Project. Our 2012 Carbon Disclosure Project response will be available at the end of June 2012.Download our response to the 2011 Carbon Disclosure Project (PDF, 335 KB) - opens in new window
Visit the Carbon Disclosure Project website - opens in new windowGHG Breakdown
Emissions by scope
Below we report the direct (scope 1) emissions that come from companies and joint ventures where we are the operator. We also report scope 2 emissions, the indirect emissions that come from the facilities of others when providing electricity or heat and steam to our operations. These are also reported based on facilities where we are the operator. Scope 3 emissions are those emissions that we estimate come from the use of our refinery and natural gas products. See a more detailed breakdown of our 2010 scope 3 (other indirect) emissions (PDF, 143 KB) - opens in new window.
The rest of the 2011 scope 3 data will be available at the end of June 2012.Scope Million tonnes Direct (Scope 1) 74 CO2 equivalent Indirect (Scope 2) 10 CO2 equivalent Use of our refinery and natural gas products (scope 3) 570 CO2 Emissions by sector
Here we report the breakdown of our emissions by business sector for 2011. These are the direct emissions from all companies and joint ventures where we are the operator.Sector Million tonnes CO2 equivalent Downstream 39.8 Upstream 30.6 Shipping 3.2 TOTAL 74
Emissions intensity
Emissions intensity is a measure of the amount of GHG produced for each unit of oil or gas produced by our upstream operations or refined by the downstream facilities we operate or control. It is the total amount of GHGs emitted (direct and indirect) per unit of output.Sector Intensity
Tonne CO2 equivalent / Tonne of production or throughputUpstream (excluding oil sands) 0.12 Oil sands* 0.52 Chemicals 0.53 Refineries 0.31 * Includes mining and upgrading operations.
About our GHG data
We report our greenhouse gas emissions in a way that is consistent with Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO14064-1.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) data can be reported on either an operational control or equity share basis. Within the oil industry there is a mix of reporting on an operational control or equity share basis.
Operational control emissions
Our primary focus is on the emissions from facilities we operate.Prior to 2009 our GHG data excluded emissions from transport and depots operated by our Downstream business, as well as some of our offices. During 2009 and early 2010 we quantified these exclusions and obtained limited assurance using some of the criteria of ISO 14064-1; a GHG specific international standard.
Our 2011 GHG Assertion - “The direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from facilities we operate were 74 million tonnes on a CO2 equivalent basis in 2011, a decrease of around 3% from 2010.”
- “The indirect GHG emissions from the energy we purchased (electricity, heat and steam) were 10 million tonnes on a CO2 equivalent basis in 2011, the same as in 2010.”
- “The 2010 Base Year numbers in 2011 were 73 million tonnes direct and 9 million tonnes energy indirect GHG emissions on a CO2 equivalent basis. Adjustments were made for our major installations in accordance with the requirements of ISO14064-1.”
- “2010 direct GHG emissions data was updated from 75 to 76 million tonnes following recalculation of the data.”
- “47% of the actual 2010 direct GHG emissions of 76 million tonnes achieved reasonable assurance under a variety of regulatory and voluntary schemes. The 2010 actual emissions are those reported before base year adjustments are applied. Reasonable Assurance audits of the 2011 data are currently underway.”
Equity share emissions
The 2010 direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on an equity share basis were 90 million tonnes on a CO2 equivalent basis, see attachment (PDF, 1181 KB) - opens in new window for more details. The 2011 data will be available at the end of June 2012.
Assurance statement for operational control emissions