Environmental partners
We work with partners to reduce our environmental impact, improve areas around our operations and ensure local communities benefit from our presence.
We share our scientific and conservation knowledge with industry and environmental groups and engage on sustainability challenges.
IUCN collaborations
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been our global partner focusing on biodiversity policy and projects for more than 20 years. In 2020, together we developed a set of guidelines for mitigating the impact of solar and wind projects on biodiversity and a global standard for nature-based solutions.
Western gray whales are the focus of environmental impact studies in Russia.
IUCN has also set up independent scientific panels to help us mitigate environmental impacts. The Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel continued to advise Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd (Shell interest 27.5%) in Russia on assessing and managing its impact on western gray whales. The panel is preparing its final conclusions which are due to be released in 2021.
In the Niger Delta, IUCN and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) continued to collaborate with others to monitor the biodiversity recovery in areas where SPDC’s new remediation standard is being applied to clean up spills.
Earthwatch leadership skills
We partner with Earthwatch to give Shell employees a chance to develop their sustainability leadership skills and make a direct contribution to scientific research and global conservation efforts. Virtual Earthwatch programmes were offered to Shell staff in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Since Earthwatch and Shell’s partnership started in 1998, Shell employees from 52 countries have contributed more than 57,000 hours to environmental data collection and conservation activities.
20+ years of collaboration with IUCN and Earthwatch
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
joint projects
years of the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel
conservation commitments since 2003 [A]
Niger Delta Panel recommendations implemented [B]
Earthwatch Europe
Earthwatch expeditions
Shell participants, 56 research projects
hours of data collection and conservation activities
Earth Skills Network
protected area staff supported
protected areas, including World Heritage Sites
[A] Shell will not explore for, or develop, oil and gas resources in natural World Heritage Sites; we will further improve the way we operate in IUCN Category I-IV protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value; we will publicly report on our activities in IUCN Categories I-IV; and we will work with IUCN and others to help safeguard protected areas.
[B] 78 out of 83 IUCN Niger Delta Panel recommendations have been agreed and implemented.
