ConocoPhillips recognizes that human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate.
While uncertainties remain, we continue to manage greenhouse gas emissions in our operations and to integrate climate change related activities and goals into our business planning. Our corporate action plan focuses on the following areas:
- Understanding our GHG footprint
- Reducing our GHG emissions
- Evaluating climate change related risks
- Leveraging technology innovation to explore new business opportunities
- Engaging externally in support of practical, sustainable climate change solutions
- Reviewing progress and updating business unit climate change management plans
Our approach to climate change is designed to advance the company's vision to be the exploration and production company of choice for all stakeholders by pioneering a new standard of excellence.
We believe that effective climate change policy must be aligned with the following principles:
- Recognize that climate change is a global issue which requires global solutions – economy-wide governmental GHG management frameworks should be linked to binding international agreements comprising the major GHG contributors
- Result in the stabilization of global GHG atmospheric concentrations at safe levels
- Coordinate with energy policy to ensure a diverse and secure supply of affordable energy
- Utilize market-based mechanisms rather than technology mandates
- Create a level competitive playing field among energy sources and between countries
- Avoid overlapping or duplicating existing energy and climate change programs
- Provide long-term certainty for investment decisions
- Promote government and private sector investment in energy research and development
- Match the pace at which new technology can be developed and deployed
- Encourage efficient use of energy
- Foster resiliency to the impacts of a changing climate
- Avoid undue harm to the economy.
Building balanced energy policies is challenging, and we recognize that no one has all the answers. As economies around the world continue to develop, fossil fuels will play an important role in meeting the growing global demand for energy. Meeting the challenge of taking action on climate change while providing adequate, affordable supplies of reliable energy will require financial investments, skilled people, technical innovation and responsible stewardship from policy makers, energy producers and consumers.
For more information, see Climate Change.