Supporting a just transition 

Our business is positioned for growth even in potentially aggressive decarbonization pathways. Profitable growth will, we expect, result in greater employment, community investment, and indirect economic growth within the communities where we operate and across broader society. This will include operations associated with our Low Carbon Solutions business, where we are building the capability to deliver lower-emission fuels, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen, all of which are critical to achieve a net-zero future, whenever it may occur. In addition, our Product Solutions business is well positioned with the expanded global growth in demand for chemicals and plastics.

ExxonMobil chairs the Just Transition Task Force within Ipieca, the global oil and natural gas association for advancing environmental and social performance across the energy transition. The task force shares best practices and information to help “support the oil and gas industry’s participation in international collaboration to transition to a lower-carbon world in a way that’s just and fair for workforces, communities, and consumers.” 

Approach

Sustained emissions reductions require a thoughtful and comprehensive approach that balances benefits and costs, is sensitive to people’s needs, and avoids economic hardship, market disruptions, and energy and product shortages. In order to accomplish this, unprecedented collaboration among governments, companies, universities, organizations, communities, and individuals is needed to move society toward a net-zero future. Informed in part by relevant, globally recognized principles, such as those of the International Labour Organization that support a “just transition,” we are working to reduce our own emissions and deliver on our strategic objectives by continuing to:

• Create value for ExxonMobil’s customers, business partners, and communities
• Provide employees opportunities for personal and professional growth with meaningful work
• Consider and manage potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts of projects and operations throughout the asset lifecycle
• Actively listen and engage employees and the communities where we work in an ongoing effort to improve quality of life — responding to these parties honestly and forthrightly at all times.

We work to foster mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation with stakeholder groups on these and other topics, as described in our Sustainability Report. 

Management and application

We’re committed to conducting business in a manner that is compatible with and supportive of the environmental and economic needs of the communities in which we operate. We strive to protect the safety, security, and health of our employees, those involved with our operations, our customers, and the public.

Our integrated environmental and socioeconomic management approach supports the early identification of potential impacts and opportunities, as well as the planning and implementation of measures to address them. This approach applies to all of our activities, including those associated with our lower-emission projects at existing sites and our other efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our portfolio. We periodically update our environmental and socioeconomic assessments to reflect any material changes to our operations or socioeconomic sensitivities, and we amend our management plans, as needed.

Communities

We seek to contribute to the social progress and economic prosperity of the communities in which we work and live and believe that respecting human rights, managing our impacts on communities, and making valued social investments are integral to the success of our business.

When engaging with communities, we understand that each is unique and we prioritize proactive, meaningful and regular engagement with local groups and individuals. We seek to have our stakeholders effectively represented as community concerns are discussed and decisions by ExxonMobil are made. We do this by working to comprehensively understand the specific environmental, health, social, and economic characteristics and needs of communities that may be impacted by our activities. In this way, we can help avoid or reduce potential impacts on communities and enhance our contribution to long-term, positive local economic and social development.

Supply chain

We understand the importance of building and maintaining a qualified and competitive supply chain in the locations in which we operate. Our approach to local supplier development and utilization includes purchasing goods and services from local suppliers wherever possible and helping build their capabilities to create a competitive local industrial base. We also promote inclusive sourcing by championing local, small, and diverse suppliers to increase competition and innovation in ways that make positive impacts on communities. Where there is a lack of diverse, small, or local suppliers, ExxonMobil aims to contribute to building capacity within our supply chain. 

Performance

Our work includes the integration of lower-emission projects at our existing sites, such as the Strathcona refinery, where teams working there will receive training and development to operate a new biofuels unit. At this site, which is operated by our majority-owned affiliate, Imperial Oil Ltd., local Indigenous community leaders have been involved in discussions with the company about potential business development opportunities, and we have contracted with local businesses for a variety of services, such as site construction and equipment fabrication.

More broadly, in the area of carbon capture and storage, many of our geoscientists are working on new initiatives, while our project engineers are working on the infrastructure investments needed to support third-party emission-reduction efforts.

As we work to lead in the energy transition, more details on our efforts regarding employees and communities are outlined on our website under: Managing socioeconomic impacts, Investing in people and Respecting human rights.