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• April 30, 2025Improving air quality
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• April 30, 2025Navigate to:
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are not the full story of air emissions. Our “Improving air quality” focus area covers other types of emissions, like nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at our operated assets.
For new projects, we apply our air emissions Project Environmental Standards. Existing operations regularly review opportunities to reduce air emissions.
Further, our corporate-wide initiatives to reduce GHG emissions intensity have the potential for additional reductions in non-GHG emissions.
In the Permian Basin, we are electrifying more of our operations. Replacing gas-engine driven compressors with electric alternatives, for example, reduces combustion NOx emissions, as well as fugitive methane and associated VOCs.
We have also eliminated routine flaring in our heritage operated assets in the Permian Basin in line with the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring Initiative.1 Reducing flaring further reduces associated NOx emissions.
Our approach
- Understanding the composition and extent of our emissions.
- Meeting or exceeding environmental regulatory requirements.
- Reducing air emissions to minimize potential impacts on local communities.
- Monitoring science and health standards related to air quality.
- Working with regulatory agencies to assess and address potential air quality issues.
We are guided by our Environment Policy, the standards set by our Project Environmental Standards, and the expectations in our Operations Integrity Management System.
Air emissions performance data
From 2016 to 2024, total reportable emissions of VOCs, SOx, and NOx decreased by about 25% at operated assets.2 Lower energy demand during the global pandemic had a direct impact on air emissions. However, our emission-reduction efforts also enabled us to keep these emissions below pre-pandemic levels, even as our throughput increased to record highs.
For historical data on our air emissions, please see the performance data table.3
Air emissions
Air emissions from ExxonMobil operated assets only.
Spotlight
Gregory-Portland Air Monitoring Program
At the (GCGV) joint venture that we operate near Corpus Christi, Texas, the Gregory-Portland community has seen little to no change in air quality since operations began.4
Through three community stations, The University of Texas has continuously monitored the area’s air quality since January 2020. The Gregory-Portland area continues to meet quality standards set by federal and state agencies. Analysis by the University of Texas at Austin shows that the overall air quality in the area ranks in or near the top 10% compared to data measured at the 40 monitors located throughout the state and operated or funded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
This data is provided by the Gregory-Portland Air Monitoring Program and analysis is shared with local residents via direct mail and a regularly updated website, maintained by a third-party affiliated with the University of Texas.
For a more in-depth analysis, visit: https://gpair.ceer.utexas.edu/
Publications
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FOOTNOTES:
- Reference to routine flaring herein is consistent with the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative/Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership’s principle of routine flaring and excludes safety and non-routine flaring. Heritage Permian refers to Permian Basin assets prior to the acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources Company that closed in May 2024.
- Air emissions performance data includes recent acquisitions (Denbury data beginning November 2, 2023 and Pioneer data beginning May 3, 2024).
- Historical performance data for NOx reflects a change in methodology for estimating NOx emissions from certain combustion equipment based on manufacturer performance data.
- Based on 2020-2023 data as published in Gregory-Portland Air Monitoring Program Air Quality Report Card, Spring 2024; 2024 data not available at time of publication.
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Images or statements of future ambitions, aims, aspirations, plans, goals, events, projects, projections, opportunities, expectations, performance, or conditions in the publications, including plans to reduce, abate, avoid or enable avoidance of emissions or reduce emissions intensity, sensitivity analyses, expectations, estimates, the development of future technologies, business plans, and sustainability efforts are dependent on future market factors, such as customer demand, continued technological progress, stable policy support and timely rule-making or continuation of government incentives and funding, and represent forward-looking statements. Similarly, emission-reduction roadmaps to drive toward net zero and similar roadmaps for emerging technologies and markets, and water management roadmaps to reduce freshwater intake and/or manage disposal, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future corporate, market or industry performance or outcomes for ExxonMobil or society and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are even unknown.
Actual future results, including the achievement of ambitions to reach Scope 1 and 2 net zero from operated assets by 2050, to reach Scope 1 and 2 net zero in heritage Permian Basin unconventional operated assets by 2030, and in Pioneer Permian assets by 2035, to eliminate routine flaring in-line with World Bank Zero Routine Flaring, to reach near zero methane emissions from operated assets and other methane initiatives to meet ExxonMobil’s greenhouse gas emission reduction plans and goals, divestment and start-up plans, and associated project plans as well as technology advances, including in the timing and outcome of projects to capture, transport and store CO2, produce hydrogen and ammonia, produce lower-emission fuels, produce ProxximaTM systems, produce carbon materials, produce lithium, and use plastic waste as feedstock for advanced recycling; future debt levels and credit ratings; business and project plans, timing, costs, capacities and profitability; resource recoveries and production rates; planned Denbury and Pioneer integrated benefits; obtain data on detection, measurement and quantification of emissions including reporting of that data or updates to previous estimates and progress in sustainability focus areas could vary depending on a number of factors, including global or regional changes in oil, gas, petrochemicals, or feedstock prices, differentials, seasonal fluctuations, or other market or economic conditions affecting the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries and the demand for our products; new market products and services; future cash flows; our ability to execute operational objectives on a timely and successful basis; the ability to realize efficiencies within and across our business lines; new or changing government policies for lower carbon and new market investment opportunities, or policies limiting the attractiveness of investments such as European taxes on energy and unequal support for different methods of carbon capture; developments or changes in local, national, or international treaties, laws, regulations, taxes, trade sanctions, trade tariffs, and incentives affecting our business, including those related to greenhouse gas emissions, plastics, carbon storage and carbon costs; timely granting of governmental permits and certifications; uncertain impacts of deregulation on the legal and regulatory environment; evolving reporting standards for these topics and evolving measurement standards for reported data; trade patterns and the development and enforcement of local, national and regional mandates; unforeseen technical or operational difficulties; the outcome of research efforts and future technology developments, including the ability to scale projects and technologies such as electrification of operations, advanced recycling, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and ammonia production, ProxximaTM systems, carbon materials or direct lithium extraction on a commercially competitive basis; the development and competitiveness of alternative energy and emission reduction technologies; unforeseen technical or operating difficulties, including the need for unplanned maintenance; availability of feedstocks for lower-emission fuels, hydrogen, or advanced recycling; changes in the relative energy mix across activities and geographies; the actions of co-venturers competitors; changes in regional and global economic growth rates and consumer preferences including willingness and ability to pay for reduced emissions products; actions taken by governments and consumers resulting from a pandemic; changes in population growth, economic development or migration patterns; timely completion of construction projects; war, civil unrest, attacks against the Company or industry, and other political or security disturbances, including disruption of land or sea transportation routes; decoupling of economies, realignment of global trade and supply chain networks, and disruptions in military alliances; and other factors discussed here and in Item 1A. 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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR NON-GAAP AND OTHER MEASURES
The Positioned for Growth in a Lower-Emission Future section of the Advancing Climate Solutions Report mentions modeled operating cash flow in comparing different businesses over time in a future scenario. Historic operating cash flow is defined as net income, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization for consolidated and equity companies, plus noncash adjustments related to asset retirement obligations plus proceeds from asset sales. The Company’s long-term portfolio modeling estimates operating cash flow as revenue or margins less cash expenses, taxes and abandonment expenditures plus proceeds from asset sales before portfolio capital expenditures. The Company believes this measure can be helpful in assessing the resiliency of the business to generate cash from different potential future markets. The performance data presented in the Advancing Climate Solutions Report and Sustainability Report, including on emissions, is not financial data and is not GAAP data.