In an announcement towards combating climate change, Shell has highlighted its focus on its new target of net-zero emissions by 2050. With intentions of helping to curb global temperature rises, the industry giant has said it will provide all possible efforts to limit greenhouse gases resulting from their own operations.
Their official statement noted that Shell “has set itself an ambition” to achieve this net-zero goal, in order to help society stop temperatures from rising up to 1.5° Celsius.
The company said it intends on doing this through three specific tactics:
- All manufacturing of Shell products is to be net-zero by 2050, at the very latest.
- Limiting emissions caused by operations and consumed energy.
- Limiting customer emissions when Shell products are used.
Shell looks to decrease carbon footprint
This is Shell’s second step towards creating a net-zero world for itself. But in order for this to happen, the company will need to have more products on the market that focus on lower carbon features. This means renewable energy, biofuels and hydrogen will become paramount, according to the giant’s recent announcement.
Back in 2017, Shell had sights set on working towards creating a 2° Celsius, but this pivot is a more realistic take to be “more in step with society”.
Looking long-term
Obviously these goals will help towards setting up a global commitment towards net-zero emissions, with the hopes that other like-minded organisations will follow suit.
Shell said its primary objective is to decrease the Net Carbon Footprint of all energy products sold by the company by 65 per cent by 2050. This will replace the initial 50 per cent that was set. In the meantime, their temporary goal sits at reducing these sales by 30 per cent by 2035, instead of the initial 20 per cent.
To see the full list of goals set by Shell, read up on their list of objectives here.
Source: Shell
Collaboration with customers is key
In order for all of this to be successful, Shell understands its need to work with customers to encourage decarbonisation. It sees this as the “third step” and aims to take it to solidify its position as a “net-zero emissions energy business”.
Shell will partner with consumers to directly look at emissions produced by Shell-produced fuels. This includes working with a number of government agencies, businesses, coalitions, sectors and individuals.
The company also noted that everyone has a role to place in moving towards this net-zero model.
“Firstly, by being more energy efficient; secondly, by using lower-carbon energy products, and thirdly, by storing away emissions that cannot be avoided, either through nature or using the technology that already exists to capture and store away CO2,” the statement read.
On an ending note, Shell highlighted that the company’s current plans won’t get the world “where we want to be”. It says that the plans must change over time, and customers must do the same.
