GHG Emissions, Industrial, Sourcing Renewables - April 16, 2020
Shell commits to carbon neutrality by 2050
Shell announced April 16 their plans on how to become net-zero in their manufacturing operations before 2050 to contribute to the global 1.5-degree climate ambition.
To achieve this goal, the energy company plans to have renewables account for 75% of their energy use alongside the elimination of coal power. They also plan to commercialize new fuels like hydrogen and biofuels.
To remove emissions in the air from their operations, Shell aims to build at least two major carbon capture facilities every month, each of which would handle over 1 million tons of carbon emissions each year.
Additionally, they have set a goal to improve energy efficiency per unit of GDP by 4.5% and incentivize low-carbon consumer and business choices with the increasing of government-led CO2 taxes.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic having a serious impact on people’s health and our economies, these are extraordinary times,” Ben van Beurden, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell, said in a statement. “Yet even at this time of immediate challenge, we must also maintain the focus on the long term. Society’s expectations have shifted quickly in the debate around climate change. Shell now needs to go further with our own ambitions, which is why we aim to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner. Society, and our customers, expect nothing less.”
Currently, the energy giant is on track to reduce its carbon footprint by 2-3% by the end of 2021. Their goal for reducing their scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 is also implemented in tandem with their goal to reduce the carbon footprint of the energy products they sell to customers by 30% before 2035 and 65% before 2050.
SED's View: Royal Dutch Shell continues to push the envelope. Their CEO, Ben van Beurden said as part of the announcement “Society’s expectations have shifted quickly in the debate around climate change. Shell now needs to go further with our own ambitions, which is why we aim to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner. Society, and our customers, expect nothing less.” That's what leadership looks like.
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