Shell and COP 15

Background

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Since 1990, the UN General Assembly has pushed for action regarding climate change. This led to 154 countries signing the UN Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) at the UN summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In the sometimes frustrating time since then, 189 countries including the one time antagonist the USA have ratified the convention. . The goal of the convention is to keep atmospheric greenhouse gases at a level which prevents dangerous man made climate change. In recent years, an annual conference of “the Parties” (COP) is held. Here, the countries which have ratified the convention meet to discuss how the goals of the convention are being sought, and hopefully obtained. A tool which the convention has adopted is the Kyoto Protocol.

United Nations Climate Change Panel

Alongside the UNFCCC, there are meetings of the United Nations Climate Change Panel or what is also known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC). This was set up in 1988 following the Brundtland Report called “Our Common Future”. The aim of the IPCC is to gather and evaluate scientific data and literature, evaluate the extent and understanding of climate change, and calculate possible solution.

Brief history of COP

The 15th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP-15) will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 7th 2009, and will be the largest summit on climate change ever.

COP-1 to COP-14

COP-1. The COP conferences have been held in various parts of the world, the first one in 1995, was in Berlin. This conference was very much an infant process, where the result was “The Berlin Mandate” a two year analysis and evaluation of the situation with regards to green house emissions. COP-2. In Geneva, in 1996, the results from the IPCC 2nd assessment, which was released the year before, was endorsed. It was established here, than member countries would persue solutions that were most relevant to their own situation, and the wish for binding targets was expressed. COP-3. Kyoto, Japan, 1997. The famous Kyoto Protocol was adopted. For the first time ever, binding greenhouse emissions targets were introduced, for 37 industrialist countries from 2008 to 2012. After a number of years of uncertainty the protocol was ratified on 16th February 2005. Several member countries of the UNFCCC have not ratified the protocol. COP-4. Buenos Aires, 1998. Problems with the Kyoto Protocol (KP) were examined and a two year period scheduled to clarify the situation. COP-5. Bonn, 1999. Technical discussions regarding mechanisms under KP. COP-6a. The Hague, 2000. This conference was marked by political discussions, which broke down when the European Union (E.U.) countries refused a compromise proposal. Problems with the United States regarding Carbon Sinks, and what sanctions to bring to countries who did not meet their obligations to reduce emissions remained. An extraordinary meeting was called for the following year, and it was agreed that negotiations would resume in July 2001. COP-6b. Bonn, 2001. By the time this conference came around, the new President of the USA George W Bush had officially rejected the KP. Despite low expectations this conference reached several agreements. The question of Carbon Sinks and sanctions were answered. COP-7. Marrakesh, 2001. Here, the documents called the Marrakesh Accords were gathered, the almost completed negotiations of the KP. COP-8. Delhi, 2002. The EU tried unsuccessfully to pass a declaration for more action from the parties of the UNFCCC. COP-9. Milan, 2003. Tidying, if not tying up the loose ends of KP. COP-10. Buenos Aires, 2004. Opening up of discussions as to what would happen when the KP expires in 2012, continuation of finalising the technicalities of KP. COP-11/CMP1. Montreal, 2005. First to take place after the KP had come into force. Here, the COP meeting was accompanied by the annual meeting between parties to the Kyoto Protocol CMP or COP/MOP. The focus was that of what would happen after the KP’s expiry in 2012. COP-12/CMP2. Nairobi,2006. The last remaining questions regarding KP were answered, and the negotiations toward an agreement for after Kyoto continued. COP-13/CMP3. Bali, 2007. The process of reaching a new agreement to replace the KP in 2012 made great progress. The most recent report from the IPCC and its conclusions were discussed, and the “Bali Action Plan” was adopted. This in essence sets the scene for the talks leading up to COP-15 in Copenhagen. COP-14/CMP4. Poznan, 2008. The work continued toward a new global climate agreement in Copenhagen. . The whole series of talks drew over 9250 participants, including 4000 government officials, 4500 representatives of UN bodies, agencies, intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organisations. .

However, by far largest corporate lobby group, was the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). This group represents the interests of Shell, B.P, Exxon and others. The IETA contained by far the largest delegation of people “-larger than any government delegation (even that of the United States) and far, far larger than any civil society group could afford to send.” .

COP-15. Copenhagen, 2009

The Danish government’s goal is to see an agreement entered by the Parties, which will apply to the period after 2012. For more information on the hopes of the Danish government, see http://http//www.cop15.dk/en. .

Royal Dutch/Shell

"Royal Dutch/Shell group and its subsidiaries belong to a large number of lobbying organisations and have substantial access to government, particularly in the UK and the Netherlands.

Shell was formerly a member of the Global Climate Coalition (GCC): In 1998 Shell followed BP and left the GCC. While the GCC was an overt lobby against action on climate change, since it was sidelined, other lobby groups have come to the fore which are more subtle in their tactics.

As a multinational which attempts to maintain the ethical high ground, Shell takes a leading position within the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Senior members of Royal Dutch/Shell Group wear their WBCSD hat, for example at the UN's COP climate summits. For details of WBCSD's position on climate change: www.wbcsd.org/projects/pr_climenergy.htm

The president of Royal Dutch and Chairman of Shell are entitled to sit at the Business Roundtable.

Notes

Centre for European Policy Studies

Shell also holds a position within the Centre for European Policy Studies(CEPS) Also belongs to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the US Council for International Business (USCIB).

From its website, the ICC heralds itself as "The only representative body that speaks with authority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world.".

ICC promotes free trade and the market economy with the conviction that "trade is a powerful force for peace and prosperity". ICC aims to be a forum where business can agree voluntary rules to govern world trade in the hope that this image of responsible industry self-regulation will persuade governments not to interfere. It proved so successful in this that within a year of the creation of the United Nations, ICC was granted consultative status at the UN..

Shell in the United States, and over 300 other American corporations belong to USCIB who are involved in lobbying the US government. The council was founded in 1945 "to promote an open system of world trade, investment and finance".. Other prominent members of the council include: BP, the American Petroleum Institute, Coca-Cola, Chevron (oil Co.), Dupont (see Corporate Watch profile), General Electric, General Motors, Ford, McDonalds, Mobil, Monsanto, Nestle USA, Philip Morris (tobacco), Texaco (oil) and Unilever. The USCIB is the US affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE). Most significantly USCIB chairs the expert-group of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

European Chemical Industry Council

The company is a member of the European Chemical Industry Council who brand themselves as "both the forum and the voice of the European chemical industry.". CEFIC represents, directly or indirectly, about 40,000 chemical companies in Europe, companies which account for more than 30 per-cent of world chemicals production.".

The European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT), which includes Phil Watts of 'Shell Transport and Trading is a club of 48 captains of industry, drawn from the largest European multinationals. With privileged access to EU and national decision-makers the roundtable has been at the forefront in promoting industry self-regulation over government-enforceable mechanisms. ERT Environment Working Group released a report on climate change in mid-October 2000, prior to COP6 in the Hague: "Climate Change: How Government and Industry can Work Together".

Shell is represented on a number of government QUANGOs in the UK: the Renewable Energy Taskforce, Advisory committee on Business and the Environment, Oil and Pipelines Agency (within the Ministry of Defence), Sustainable Development Education Panel, and the European Environmental Agency.

Greenwash

In the face of current public hostility towards Esso (See: www.stopesso.com), Shell is making renewed efforts (December 2001) to differentiate itself from the dirty dog of the industry. A series of newspaper adverts portray Shell as a caring, listening company - part of an already established public face for the company, for example with its community-aware "Flares out in 2008" program in Nigeria . This public face ignores the group's ambitious targets for increased production of fossil fuels.

Shell has further greened its image by being seen to talk with NGOs (Non-Govenmental Organisations) most notably and most controversially Amnesty International.

Official stance

"The Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) The most newsworthy climate session was structured as a call to action featuring former VP Gore, UNSG Ban Ki-Moon, UNFCCC SG de Boer, Danish PM Fogh Rasmussen, Shell CEO van der Veer, and Swiss Re CEO Algrain. Shell CEO van der Veer called for an a global agreement where developed countries take on obligatory cuts, and developing countries are included through sector agreements. He referred to CCS as an interesting technology with huge potential, but hampered by cost and lots of uncertainty. He said it could, at best, be a bridge to a future of renewable energy.",

"Jeroen van der Veer, Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell, chairs the Energy and Climate Change working group of the European Round Table of Industrialists. According to him several specific policy initiatives could help government and society better harness companies’ agility and innovative power in the quest to control greenhouse-gas emissions: Agreements among groups of key countries to reduce emissions in specific industrial sectors; Incentives for companies to capture CO2 and store it safely underground, accelerating the deployment of this promising technology; Technology funds to support the development and commercial demonstration of new technologies, such as advanced biofuels, with high potential for lowering CO2 emissions. Until now, negotiators have aimed for a global deal palatable to developed and developing countries alike. While that remains the ultimate goal, it has so far proven devilishly complex to formulate." ,

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