The passing of this resolution commits BP to publicly sharing information on a range of issues, including the effect of climate regulations on the value of its oil and gas reserves; its investments in low-carbon technologies; the amount of CO₂ emissions stemming from its operations; what sort of incentives the board is offering directors during the low carbon transition; as well as on its public policy-related lobbying activities. Once such information becomes disclosed, investors will be able to judge whether BP is living up to its promises of becoming a sustainable player in the energy system.

Big promises but little action

While welcoming the resolution, Bellona calls on the oil giant to back its words and promises by concrete actions to cut its emissions. Bellona’s sceptic approach can be further justified by the fact that BP clearly stated that it will not be setting itself targets for cutting its own CO₂ emissions or moving beyond petroleum. Moreover, while BP claims to support a global economy-wide price on carbon, it has scaled back its investments in renewable energy.

“Any continued viability of oil and gas producers can only be ensured with honesty and recognition of the risk of stranded assets and  the rapid mobilisation of investment into CO₂ mitigation technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)” warns Jonas Helseth, Director at Bellona Europa.

BP’s resolution comes three months after the filing of a resolution by 150 investors, including Shell, similarly committing them to publish detailed analyses of how their business plans fit with global climate change objectives. These developments are confirming the reality of the carbon bubble where assets sunk into fossil fuels projects are being lost.