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Unit

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scope 1 [A]

Million tonnes CO2e

50

51

60

63

70

Scope 2 [B]

Million tonnes CO2e

7

7

8

8

10

Net carbon intensity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net carbon intensity [C]

gCO2e/MJ

74

76

77

75

78

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Million tonnes

49

49

58

61

67

Methane (CH4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methane (CH4)

Thousand tonnes

41

40

55

67

91

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Thousand tonnes

1

1

1

1

1

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Tonnes

19

26

25

30

29

Upstream flaring [D]

 

 

 

 

 

 

GHG emissions from flaring

Million tonnes CO2e

2.8

3.0

4.5

3.8

5.9

Total hydrocarbons flared

Million tonnes

0.7

0.8

1.3

1.1

1.8

Nigeria

Million tonnes

0.4

0.4

0.8

0.6

0.7

Rest of the world

Million tonnes

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.5

1.2

Energy intensity – upstream [E]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upstream excl. oil sands, LNG and GTL

GJ/tonne production

1.18

1.19

1.14

1.15

1.07

Energy intensity – refineries [E]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Refineries: Refinery Energy Index [F]

Index

98.7

95.6

96.9

96.1

94.2

Energy intensity – chemical plants [E]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chemical plants: Chemicals Energy Intensity

GJ/tonne production

20.3

19.3

18.1

18.7

19.4

Acid gases and VOCs [N]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sulphur oxides (SOx)

Thousand tonnes

31

37

32

37

65

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Thousand tonnes

88

93

106

118

107

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Thousand tonnes

36

37

48

47

54

Ozone-depleting emissions [N]

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFCs/halons/trichloroethane

Tonnes

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

Tonnes

2

2

2

6

8

Spills – number [G]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sabotage spills [H]

Number

140

75

106

122

156

Operational spills – total volume

Number

70

55

42

71

69

Operational spills – Nigeria [I]

Number

9

10

9

12

8

Operational spills – rest of the world

Number

61

45

33

59

61

Hurricane spills [J]

Number

0

0

2

0

0

Spills – volume [G]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sabotage spills [H]

Thousand tonnes

1.4

0.6

3.3

1.5

2.3

Operational spills – total volume [M]

Thousand tonnes

0.37

0.06

0.06

0.4

0.22

Operational spills – Nigeria [K]

Thousand tonnes

0.005

0.01

0.03

0.03

0.05

Operational spills – rest of the world

Thousand tonnes

0.37

0.06

0.04

0.4

0.2

Hurricane spills [J]

Thousand tonnes

0.00

0.00

0.03

0.00

0.00

Oil in effluents to surface environment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil in effluents to surface environment

Thousand tonnes

1.0

0.9

1.0

1.4

1.3

Water use and discharge [L]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh water withdrawn

Million cubic metres

162

148

166

171

192

Fresh water consumed

Million cubic metres

111

103

122

127

145

Waste

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazardous waste disposed

Thousand tonnes

631

878

820

537

708

Non-hazardous waste disposed

Thousand tonnes

1,619

1,135

1,113

1,485

1,420

Total waste disposed

Thousand tonnes

2,251

2,012

1,993

2,025

2,131

[A]

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) comprise carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride. The data are calculated using locally regulated methods where they exist. Where there is no locally regulated method, the data are calculated using the 2021 API Compendium, which is the recognised industry standard under the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. There are inherent limitations to the accuracy of such data. Oil and gas industry guidelines (Ipieca, API and IOGP) indicate that several sources of uncertainty can contribute to the overall uncertainty of a corporate emissions inventory. We have estimated the overall uncertainty for our direct GHG emissions to be around 4% for 2023.
GHG emissions were calculated using global warming potential (GWP) factors from the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report. For comparison, our Scope 1 emissions would have been 50 million tonnes in 2023 if we were to use GWPs from the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report.
GHG emissions in this table do not include carbon credits.

[B]

We estimated the uncertainty of our 2023 Scope 2 GHG emissions to be around 8% for the market-based method and 7% for the location-based method.

[C]

The net carbon intensity calculation uses Shell's energy product sales volume data, as disclosed in the Annual Report and Sustainability Report. This excludes certain contracts held for trading purposes and is reported net rather than gross. Business-specific methodologies for net volumes have been applied to oil products, pipeline gas and power. Paper trades that do not result in physical product delivery are excluded. Retail sales volumes from markets where Shell operates under trademark licensing agreements are also excluded from the scope of Shell's net carbon intensity metric.
Acquisitions and divestments are included in the actual performance tracking with the target and baseline year unchanged. Note that acquisitions and divestments could have a material impact on meeting the targets.

[D]

Includes Upstream and Integrated Gas businesses.

[E]

We have updated some of our historical figures following a review of the data.

[F]

Data are indexed to 2002, based on Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index methodology.

[G]

All spill volumes and numbers are for hydrocarbon spills of more than 100 kilograms to the environment (land or water). We have updated some of our historical figures following a review of the data.

[H]

All sabotage- and theft-related spills in 2019-23 occurred in Nigeria except for one in 2023 in Australia.

[I]

Nigeria includes SPDC onshore operations and SNEPCo offshore operations.
Nigeria includes SPDC onshore operations (9 operational spills in 2023) and SNEPCo offshore operations (no operational spills in 2022).

[J]

This category reflects the spills caused by exceptional natural events, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Data for 2021 reflect the impact of Hurricane Ida.

[K]

Nigeria includes SPDC onshore operations and SNEPCo offshore operations.

[L]

Fresh-water figures do not include once-through cooling water. Breakdown may not add up to the total due to rounding.

[M]

Split between Nigeria and the rest of the world may not add up to the total due to rounding.

[N]

Emissions by business for 2019 to 2022 have been restated based on the new businesses in 2023.

 

Unit

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Fatalities [A]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employees

number of fatalities

0

0

0

0

3

Contractors [H]

number of fatalities

5

2

8

0

4

Total number

number of fatalities

5

2

8

0

7

Fatal accident rate [B]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employees

number per 100 million hours

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

1.6

Contractors

number per 100 million hours

1.9

0.7

2.9

0.0

1.2

Injuries [B]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total recordable case frequency (TRCF) (employees and contractors)

number per million hours

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.7

0.9

Lost time injury frequency (LTIF) (employees and contractors)

number per million hours

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.3

Road transport safety performance [C]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severe motor vehicle incident frequency rate [D]

number of severe motor vehicle incidents per 100 million kilometres driven

3.9

3.3

1.7

2.1

3.3

Number of road-transport-related fatalities (employees and contractors)

number

0

1

0

0

2

Operational process safety events [E]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tier 1

number

19

15

38

34

41

Tier 2

number

44

51

65

70

90

Health

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total recordable occupational illness frequency (TROIF) (employees only) [F]

number per million hours

0.5

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.5

Security [G]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using armed security

% of countries

20

16

14

14

20

Using armed company security

% of countries

1

1

3

1

1

Using armed contractor security

% of countries

7

9

8

8

11

[A]

In line with industry standards, we distinguish three contract modes. Mode 1: contractor/supplier performs work under Shell’s HSSE Management System (HSSE MS); Mode 2: contractor/supplier performs work under its own HSSE MS, which is materially equivalent to Shell’s HSSE MS; Mode 3: contractor/supplier performs work under its own HSSE MS. Also in line with industry standards, we report on safety performance only for contract modes 1 and 2. We have updated some of our historical figures following a review of the data.
Includes fatal occupational injuries and illnesses except for those related to COVID-19. There were two COVID-19-related occupational illnesses in 2020 that resulted in death (0 employees, 2 contractors) and one COVID-19-related fatality in 2021 (0 employees, 1 contractor).

[B]

In line with industry standards, we distinguish three contract modes. Mode 1: contractor/supplier performs work under Shell’s HSSE Management System (HSSE MS); Mode 2: contractor/supplier performs work under its own HSSE MS, which is materially equivalent to Shell’s HSSE MS; Mode 3: contractor/supplier performs work under its own HSSE MS. Also in line with industry standards, we report on safety performance only for contract modes 1 and 2. We have updated some of our historical figures following a review of the data.

[C]

In line with industry standards, we distinguish three contract modes. Mode 1: contractor/supplier performs work under Shell’s HSSE Management System (HSSE MS); Mode 2: contractor/supplier performs work under its own HSSE MS, which is materially equivalent to Shell’s HSSE MS; Mode 3: contractor/supplier performs work under its own HSSE MS. Also in line with industry standards, we report on safety performance only for contract modes 1 and 2.

[D]

Severe motor vehicle incident is defined as a motor vehicle incident resulting in a fatality, serious injury or a rollover of a vehicle.

[E]

Process safety events are classified according to guidance from the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers and the American Petroleum Institute.
In 2023, there were two Tier 1 sabotage-related events (not included in the above data). The classification of sabotage-related process safety events is made on the best-endeavours basis.
Operational process safety events for 2019 to 2022 have been restated based on the new businesses in 2023.

[F]

There were 7 COVID-19 related employee occupational illnesses in 2023.

[G]

Data obtained from an internal survey completed by the senior Shell representative in each country.

[H]

Fatalities in 2023 include one contractor colleague who was injured in a 2023 incident and unfortunately succumbed to their injuries in February 2024.