We have expanded the list of climate policies we assess company engagement with to incorporate land-use related policy, referring to legislative or regulatory measures to enhance and protect ecosystems and land where carbon is being stored. Assessments under this category are currently underweighted in terms of their contribution to the overall company metrics. This weighting will be progressively increased over the next 6 months.
We adjusted the terminology used to describe the queries running down the left-hand side of our scoring matrix and added additional explanatory text to the info-boxes. This has no impact on the scores and methodology. It has been done following user feedback to improve clarity.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of the API and sits on the climate committee. Its 2021 industry association review did not identify any misalignment with the API. (Up to date as November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor holds a position on the API board and sits on several of API's committees, including the State Government affairs committee and the Upstream Committee. In its 2020 Industry Association Review, Equinor stated it had some misalignments from API's climate policy, including the API's position on methane regulation and carbon pricing.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of API
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
American Petroleum Institute [...] Is your position on climate change consistent with theirs? Mixed [...] Please explain the trade association's position [...] In favour of industry developed standards to reduce emission reductions. Less in favour of federal climate regulations and legislation in the US. [...] How have you, or are you attempting to, influence the position? [...] Statoil is a relatively small operating company in the US and has only limited influence on API's positions on climate change. However, we inform API when we disagree on positions they are taking.
Membership
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of API
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of the API and sits on the climate committee. Its 2021 industry association review did not identify any misalignment with the API. (Up to date as November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor holds a position on the API board and sits on several of API's committees, including the State Government affairs committee and the Upstream Committee. In its 2020 Industry Association Review, Equinor stated it had some misalignments from API's climate policy, including the API's position on methane regulation and carbon pricing.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of API
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
American Petroleum Institute [...] Is your position on climate change consistent with theirs? Mixed [...] Please explain the trade association's position [...] In favour of industry developed standards to reduce emission reductions. Less in favour of federal climate regulations and legislation in the US. [...] How have you, or are you attempting to, influence the position? [...] Statoil is a relatively small operating company in the US and has only limited influence on API's positions on climate change. However, we inform API when we disagree on positions they are taking.
Membership
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of API
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Morten Loktu is on the Management Committee; Catherine Jahre Nilsen is chair of the Artic Committee; Olav Aamlid Syversen is Chair of the EU Committee (aims of which include facilitating a favourable environment for members to bring to the European market oil and gas they have produced elsewhere in the world); Roald Sirevaag is chair of the Subsea committee ( which in part deals with the underwater portion of export systems (pipelines, risers, insolation valves, etc.) (Up to date November 2021)
Morten Loktu; Catherine Jahre Nilsen; Olav Aamlid Syversen; Roald Sirevaag
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, IOGP - Is your position on climate change consistent with theirs? [...] Mixed [...] Please explain the trade association's position [...] To represent and advocate industry views by developing effective proposals based on professionally established technical arguments in a societal context. [...] How have you, or are you attempting to, influence the position? [...] Has a different view than IOGP on EU climate and energy policy and is providing input to position papers to adjust IOGP's position.
Statoil has distanced themselves from IOGP
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of Statoil is on the management committee of IOGP
Torstein Hole
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Morten Loktu is on the Management Committee; Catherine Jahre Nilsen is chair of the Artic Committee; Olav Aamlid Syversen is Chair of the EU Committee (aims of which include facilitating a favourable environment for members to bring to the European market oil and gas they have produced elsewhere in the world); Roald Sirevaag is chair of the Subsea committee ( which in part deals with the underwater portion of export systems (pipelines, risers, insolation valves, etc.) (Up to date November 2021)
Morten Loktu; Catherine Jahre Nilsen; Olav Aamlid Syversen; Roald Sirevaag
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, IOGP - Is your position on climate change consistent with theirs? [...] Mixed [...] Please explain the trade association's position [...] To represent and advocate industry views by developing effective proposals based on professionally established technical arguments in a societal context. [...] How have you, or are you attempting to, influence the position? [...] Has a different view than IOGP on EU climate and energy policy and is providing input to position papers to adjust IOGP's position.
Statoil has distanced themselves from IOGP
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of Statoil is on the management committee of IOGP
Torstein Hole
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
President of Equinor Wind US serves on the 2023 American Clean Power Association Board of Directors (updated as of February 2023)
Molly Morris
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
President of Equinor Wind US serves on the 2023 American Clean Power Association Board of Directors (updated as of February 2023)
Molly Morris
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a direct member of the Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo e Gás and participates in several of its boards and committees (Up to date as of August 2022)
Paulo Henrique Van Der Ven, Verônica Coelho, Margareth Ovrum, Claudia Brun (Up to date as of November 2021)
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a direct member of the Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo e Gás and participates in several of its boards and committees (Up to date as of August 2022)
Paulo Henrique Van Der Ven, Verônica Coelho, Margareth Ovrum, Claudia Brun (Up to date as of November 2021)
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is one of 8 members of NGSA (Up to date as of November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A subsidiary of Statoil is a member of NGSA (up-to-date Dec 2019)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is one of 8 members of NGSA (Up to date as of November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A subsidiary of Statoil is a member of NGSA (up-to-date Dec 2019)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is an AS group member of businessEurope (Up to date November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is an AS Group member of BusinessEurope
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is an AS group member of businessEurope (Up to date November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is an AS Group member of BusinessEurope
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive at Equinor, Arne Gurtner, sits on the board of OGUK (Correct as of November 2021)
Arne Gurtner
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of OGUK (Correct as of September 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive at Equinor, Arne Gurtner, sits on the board of OGUK (Correct as of November 2021)
Arne Gurtner
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of OGUK (Correct as of September 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Equinor is on the Board of Hydrogen Europe
Hege Rogno
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a direct member of Hydrogen Europe (Up to date as of November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Equinor is on the Board of Hydrogen Europe
Hege Rogno
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a direct member of Hydrogen Europe (Up to date as of November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of FuelsEurope (Up to date November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of FuelsEurope
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of FuelsEurope (Up to date November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of FuelsEurope
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a business member of Cefic (up to date October 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a direct business member of Cefic
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a business member of Cefic (up to date October 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a direct business member of Cefic
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of WindEurope (Up-to-date November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of WindEurope
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of WindEurope (Up-to-date November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of WindEurope
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of IETA (Up to date as of November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of IETA (up-to-date Dec 2019)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Equinor is a member of IETA (Up to date as of November 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Statoil is a member of IETA (up-to-date Dec 2019)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive is a member of NPC (up to date November 2021)
Hans Jakob Hegge
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive Vice President of a subsidiary of Statoil is a member of NPC
Torgrim Reitan
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive is a member of NPC (up to date November 2021)
Hans Jakob Hegge
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive Vice President of a subsidiary of Statoil is a member of NPC
Torgrim Reitan
In this section, we depict graphically the relationships the corporation has with trade associations, federations, advocacy groups and other third parties who may be acting on their behalf to influence climate change policy. Each of the columns above represents one relationship the corporation appears to have with such a third party. In these columns, the top, dark section represents the strength of the relationship the corporation has with the influencer. For example if a corporation's senior executive also held a key role in the trade association, we would deem this to be a strong relationship and it would be on the far left of the chart above, with the weaker ones to the right. Click on these grey shaded upper sections for details of these relationships. The middle section contains a link to the organization score details of the influencer concerned, so you can see the details of its climate change policy influence. Click on the middle sections for for details of the trade associations. The lower section contains the organization score of that influencer, the lower the more negatively it is influencing climate policy.
Open PDF file of Data Source
Climate Lobbying Overview: Equinor appears to have mixed engagement on climate policy, with generally positive positions on policies related to carbon pricing such as carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes. However, its communications on policies related to the future energy mix appear mixed, and the company continues to actively promote a continued role for fossil gas in the energy mix.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Equinor’s top-line messaging on climate policy appears to be broadly positive. In its 2022 Energy Transition Plan, Equinor supported the ‘most ambitious’ goals of the Paris Agreement and reaching net zero emissions ‘around the mid-century’, while also stressing the need to consider the world's needs for affordable and reliable energy. Nevertheless, the company did state support for net zero by 2050 in its 2022 industry association review, as well as that it supported policies that advance the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Equinor’s engagement with climate-related regulations appears to be mixed. In its Climate Policy Positions document, accessed in August 2022, Equinor states support for both carbon taxation and cap-and-trade schemes. Equinor also appears to be highly engaged with renewable energy legislation with mixed positions. In May 2022, Equinor submitted comments on Offshore Wind Energy Development in Federal Waters Off the California Coast, in which it appeared to advocate for a more ambitious target of 20 GW by 2045 compared to the proposed target of 10 GW. Equinor was also part of a joint letter sent to congressional leadership in January 2022 advocating for clean energy tax credits to be passed as part of the Build Back Better Act. The company has stated support for the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy, and EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) in September and November 2021 consultation responses respectively. However, with respect to RED, Equinor supported weakening the policy to include ‘decarbonized fossil fuels’.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Equinor's position on the energy transition appears mixed. In the company’s 2022 Energy Transition Plan, it appeared to suggest that oil and gas is desirable in the long-term energy mix and stated its support of ‘low and zero carbon’ hydrogen. Nevertheless, it also stated support for the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies. In Equinor’s climate policy positions document, accessed in 2021, it stated that it also supported measures to incentivise blue and green hydrogen production, while stating support for carbon capture and storage technologies.
Equinor appears to be advocating for the continued role of fossil fuels to policymakers. In April 2022, Equinor submitted comments on the EU Gas Package, in which it appeared to support the development of new sources of fossil gas, while also supporting additional clean energy targets/quotas but stating that they should be open to 'low-carbon' solutions. Equinor is also supporting the uptake of fossil fuels in the shipping sector, in November 2021 comments on the ReFuel Maritime Regulation, it appeared to support changes to the carbon intensity values of fuels in order to incentivise the uptake of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in meeting FuelEU Maritime emission intensity targets.
While Equinor appears to support an expanded role for hydrogen in the energy mix, it also supports a role for hydrogen derived from fossil fuels. For example, in March 2021, the company submitted a response to the EU’s Revision of Rules on Market Access, in which it called for‘technological neutral’ support mechanisms for hydrogen development while also stressing the need to safeguard the internal gas market.
Industry Association Governance: Equinor retains membership to numerous industry associations that continue to oppose specific climate policies and regulations. Equinor holds membership of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and committee membership of American Petroleum Institute (API), which have lobbied in opposition to ambitious climate policy agendas on climate change. In its 2022 Industry Association Review, Equinor stated it was misaligned with NAM and partially misaligned with the API and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). The company did not indicate any misalignment with any other association it holds a membership with that traditionally engages negatively on climate policy, such as BusinessEurope, FuelsEurope and Offshore Energies UK.
A detailed assessment of the company's corporate review on climate policy engagement can be found on InfluenceMap's CA100+ Investor Hub here.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate 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 Q3 2022.
Additional Note: Equinor is a listed company with more than 50% of its shares owned by the government of Norway. State-owned enterprises likely retain channels of direct and private engagement with government officials that InfluenceMap is unable to assess, and therefore are not represented in Equinor's engagement intensity metric.