Our approach to respecting nature

We realise there is growing urgency to protect and enhance biodiversity, preserve water quality and availability, improve air quality and use resources more efficiently. Nature loss and climate change are interconnected and need to be tackled together. This was recognised in 2022 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), and also at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) where a landmark Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed.

As a business, we rely on nature for resources such as land, water and materials for our operations. We recognise that our activities can have an impact on nature through discharges and emissions to the environment, and through changes to the use of land, water and oceans.

Respecting the environment and local communities has been an integral part of the way we do business for many years, as set out in the Shell General Business Principles and Shell Commitment and Policy on Health, Security, Safety, the Environment and Social Performance.

Respecting Nature is part of our Powering Progress strategy. Our commitments focus on four priority areas: biodiversity (land and marine environments), water, circular economy and waste, and air quality. They set out our ambitions for 2030 and later, as well as our shorter-term goals.

We have included these commitments in our performance management and reporting systems and have been working to define baselines and track progress. Our Executive Committee is accountable for delivery of our Respecting Nature goals.

Our purchasing policies include requirements that reflect our environmental framework and take the energy efficiency, material efficiency and sustainability of products into consideration in our purchases (see Supply chain).

We will continue to seek opportunities to go further. Our environmental ambitions will be underpinned by collaboration with our supply chain and transparent reporting.

Read more about our approach at www.shell.com/sustainability/environment.