Introduction and Governance

Introduction

Shell is dedicated to making a positive impact on people around the world – by providing the vital energy people need, championing inclusion, respecting human rights and contributing to local communities and economies.

Around 760 million people [A] in the world have no electricity and over half the world population has insufficient energy to lead a good life [B]. We deliver energy commercially, by investing in businesses that supply energy access in emerging markets; and socially, by investing funds, expertise and resources in access to energy programmes.

[A] International Energy Agency, SDG7: Data and Projections, 2023.
[B] UN Human Development Index. Approximately 75 GJ final energy per capita is the threshold where populations reach 0.8 on UN Human Development Index which can be considered a good life.

We also want to help communities benefit from having us as their neighbour. We generate jobs, pay billions in tax each year and support start-ups, local businesses and education programmes. And we promote human rights in the communities, companies and organisations we work with. This includes activities such as advancing worker welfare and shaping an inclusive world so that everyone can be themselves.

We aim to become one of the world's most diverse and inclusive organisations, a place where everyone feels valued and respected.

Our core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people underpin our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. Shell is committed to respecting human rights as set out in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

The importance of respecting people also extends to our suppliers. Shell's Supplier Principles outline our expectations for business integrity, including safety, security, labour and human rights, and environmental and social performance. We expect all suppliers to understand and implement the principles in their supply chains when working with Shell.

Governance

Respecting people has been integral to the way we do business for many years. Shell's HSSE & SP Control Framework sets out how we identify, assess and manage our impacts on communities where we operate, including any impact on human rights. The Framework also defines how we should share the benefits arising from our presence, such as by providing local employment and contractual opportunities.

We are transitioning from the HSSE & SP Control Framework to our new Safety, Environment and Asset Management Standards (SEAM) as part of the Shell Performance Framework. The SEAM Standards will come into effect from mid-2024.

As part of our aim to become one of the most diverse and inclusive organisations in the world, our CEO and Executive Committee are accountable for our progress against our diversity, equity and inclusion goals.