Our approach to climate change
In 1997, Shell was one of the first energy companies to acknowledge the threat of climate change; to call for action by governments, our industry and energy users; and to take action ourselves.
This continues to be reinforced by our senior executives today:
“For us, as a company, the scientific debate about climate change is over. The debate now is about what we can do about it. Businesses, like ours, should turn CO2 management into a business opportunity and lead the search for responsible ways to manage CO2, use energy more efficiently and provide the extra energy the world needs to grow. But that also requires concerted action by governments to create the long-term, market-based policies needed to make it worthwhile to invest in energy efficiency, CO2 mitigation and lower carbon fuels. With fossil fuel use and CO2 levels continuing to grow fast, there is no time to lose.”
Jeroen van der Veer
Chief Executive
Fossil fuels will continue to provide the majority of the world’s growing need for energy for decades to come. They remain the most convenient and affordable source of energy we have and the only one currently available on the enormous scale needed.
That makes managing CO2 emissions from coal, oil and natural gas critical to addressing man-made climate change. We invest in technologies and projects to provide the extra energy societies need and demonstrate the integrated CO2 solutions they expect.
The role of public policy
The challenges surrounding climate change cannot be met by energy producers, industry or consumers alone. Governments must set the framework to encourage investments in low and zero CO2 emitting energy and promote energy efficiency and responsible energy use.
We have stepped up our appeals to governments to lead on this issue and introduce effective, policies, like emissions trading, to combat climate change.
More on our call for action in Our 
participation in the public policy debates.
Managing our own emissions
We are taking action by managing GHG emissions in our worldwide operations. In 2006, facilities we operate emitted 98 million tonnes of GHGs, about seven million lower than the previous year and more than 20% below 1990 levels. Find out more in our environmental performance section.
We set an aggressive voluntary target to reduce GHG emissions from our operations in 2010 to a level 5% below 1990 levels, even while growing our business. By the end of 2002 we had met our first GHG target, reducing emissions by over 10 percent compared to 1990, through efforts such as the elimination of continuous venting.
Discover the ways in which we are managing our emissions.
Helping customers reduce their emissions
Our customers emit six to seven times more CO2 using our products than we do making them - more than 750 million tonnes of CO2 in a typical year. We are encouraging people to use energy efficiently and providing them with electricity and transport options emitting less CO2. More information on how we help our customers reduce their emissions.
Related links
Read more about our approach to climate change in our public response to the Carbon Disclosure Project - opens in new window.
→ Shell Sustainability Report 2006
Visit the online Shell Sustainability Report 2006 and discover what we say about climate change - opens in new window.
