Biodiversity Policy Engagement Analysis
Biodiversity Lobbying Overview: Shell has mostly positive top-line messaging on biodiversity loss, but its engagement on biodiversity-relevant policy is predominantly negative.
Top-line Messaging on Biodiversity Loss: Shell has had limited but broadly positive top-line messaging on biodiversity loss. Shell appeared to recognize the need for action to combat biodiversity loss in its 2023 Annual Report, published in 2024. Shell is one of the signatories of the joint action for Business for Nature, calling on governments “to adopt policies now to reverse nature loss in this decade”, accessed February 2023. Shell discussed the UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in its 2023 Sustainability Report, published in 2024, without stating a position.
Engagement with Biodiversity-Related Regulations:Shell has mostly engaged on policy related to land use change. In its 2023 Climate and Energy Transition Lobbying Report, published in 2024, Shell advocated for extending the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) feedstock list and for “flexibility” in the choice of feedstock under the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, highlighting the importance of ensuring these meet the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) sustainability criteria. However, in its 2023 CDP Climate Change Information Request, Shell also advocated for “greater feedstock flexibility” under the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation with no reference to the policy’s sustainability criteria. In a June 2023 consultation response on the UK SAF mandate, Shell opposed a cap on the use of Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) as feedstock, which is intended to restrict indirect displacement effects. In its 2024 US Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Shell disclosed engagement on issues regarding oil and gas leasing on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, in the Gulf of Mexico Region, and on the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas (OCS) Five-Year plan.
Shell also disclosed engagement on pollution-related legislation in its 2023 US Senate Lobbying Disclosures, including the Outer Continental Shelf National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and issues related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In its entry in the EU Transparency Register, updated in March 2024, Shell disclosed engagement on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. However, Shell does not appear to have disclosed a public position on any of these policies.
Positioning on Statutory Protection of Wildlife: Shell has engaged on the statutory protection of wildlife without disclosing a clear position. In its 2024 US Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Shell disclosed engagement on the Endangered Species Act and the critical habitat designation for Rice’s whale.
Industry Association Governance:Shell is a member of several industry associations which take negative positions on biodiversity-related regulations, including the American Petroleum Institute, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers and the US Chamber of Commerce. Shell has listed its membership of trade associations on its corporate website, without disclosing indirect influence relevant to biodiversity loss.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate biodiversity policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q2 2024