Improving air quality

We recognize the importance of clean air to our communities, and our emission-reduction initiatives include those that aim to reduce nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and volatile organic compounds at our operated assets. From 2016 to 2022, total reportable emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and volatile organic compounds decreased by approximately 23% at operated assets.

In this section

Image United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to this content.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to this content.

Approach

Our environmental management approach includes our Environment Policy and the procedures at our operational sites to identify and control air emissions. For new projects, we apply our Project Environmental Standards, which guide our facility designs and operations as we produce energy and products to meet society’s needs.

Our approach to air quality management includes:

  • Understanding the composition and extent of our emissions.
  • Meeting or exceeding environmental regulations.
  • Reducing air emissions to minimize potential impacts on local communities.
  • Monitoring the science and health standards related to air quality.

As part of our approach to improving air quality, we evaluate the potential impact of our emissions to the communities where we operate. We use these insights as we consider whether to advance appropriate capital projects and initiatives even as we work with regulatory agencies to assess and address potential air quality issues.

Management and application

Our corporate-wide initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity have the potential to further improve air quality by lowering non-GHG emissions. 

We install controls at combustion sources to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions. In addition, Imperial Oil Ltd.'s Canadian Sarnia and Nanticoke refineries and chemical plants have developed emission reduction plans expected to reduce sulfur oxides emissions by approximately 50% at Nanticoke and more than 90% at Sarnia by the end of 2028.Our affiliate’s refinery in Antwerp, Belgium, changed the configuration of its sulfur recovery unit in 2019 and reduced its sulfur oxides emissions by more than 50%.

Performance

From 2016 to 2022, total reportable emissions of volatile organic compounds, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides decreased by approximately 23% at operated assets. Operational throughput at ExxonMobil operated sites decreased due to lower demand during the global pandemic. This had a directional impact on air emissions. As throughput increased following the pandemic, air emissions also increased, but at a lower than historical level as a result of emission-reduction initiatives.

For historical data on ExxonMobil’s air emissions, please see the performance data table

Air emissions

Air emissions from ExxonMobil operated assets only.

FOOTNOTE: 

  1. Versus the five-year average up to and including 2019.  See Imperial 2022 Corporate Sustainability Report, page 11.

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