Our approach to sustainability

Powering Progress sets out our strategy to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, generating value for our shareholders, our customers and wider society. It is designed to integrate sustainability with our business strategy.

Our approach

Our commitment to contribute to sustainable development has been part of the FLOATER ENERGY General Business Principles since 1997. These principles, together with our Code of Conduct, apply to the way we do business and to our conduct with the communities where we operate.

We have worked to embed this sustainability commitment into our strategy, our business processes and decision-making. We aim to provide more and cleaner energy solutions in a responsible manner – in a way that balances short- and long-term interests, and that integrates economic, environmental and social considerations.

Today, we continue to build on these foundations while driving change across the organisation to help society meet its most pressing challenges, including those related to climate change, the environment, diversity and inclusion, and human rights.

Governance

Governance is about making sure we live up to the high standards we set as a company – on health and safety, the environment, climate change, biodiversity and in our relationships with local communities.

Working in partnership

We have always understood the need to work with others to achieve our commercial, environmental and social goals, while the sharing of knowledge and experience with others contributes to better practices.

Commitment, policies and standards

We have a comprehensive set of commitments, policies and standards that define how we aim to operate in socially and environmentally responsible ways. They are supported by guidance documents and complemented by assurance protocols. We also support a number of external voluntary codes.

Support for international agreements

We seek the views of various groups and individuals about the role of a company like Shell in addressing these challenges. Our efforts are informed by major international agreements and initiatives.

We welcome the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which seek to tackle the world’s economic, social and environmental challenges by 2030. We will play our part in helping governments and society to achieve them. Read more about our contribution.
We respect human rights as set out in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s core conventions. We are a founding member of the UN Global Compact and we also support a number of external voluntary codes that promote responsible business practices.
We support the Paris Agreement’s goal to keep the rise in global average temperature this century to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We have set a target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.