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Emission-reduction plans and progress
Progress toward net zero by 2050
With advancements in technology and the support of clear and consistent government policies, we aim to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions in our operated assets by 2050.
Our net-zero ambition is backed by a comprehensive approach centered on detailed emission-reduction roadmaps. We completed these roadmaps in 2022 and continue to update them to reflect technology and policy, and to account for the many potential pathways and the pace of the energy transition.
We are using this approach in our Permian Basin unconventional operations, where we are on track to achieve our industry-leading plans to reach net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
Our progress on the roadmap includes:
- Electrifying operations: Our first 23 electrical compressors are online and we deployed an electric frac unit in 2023.
- Lower-carbon power: In 2023, we signed long-term agreements to enable over 475 megawatts of wind capacity for our assets in Texas and New Mexico. We also conducted behind-the-meter solar evaluation.
- Upgrading equipment: We have replaced all the pneumatic devices in our Permian unconventional operations, more than 6,000 in total.
- Deploying technology: We further expanded our methane detection and mitigation technology, eliminated routine flaring, and upgraded equipment.
Potential GHG abatement options for ExxonMobil Permian unconventional operated assets supporting 2030 net-zero plan1
2030 greenhouse gas emission-reduction plans2
We are working to continuously improve our performance, methods to detect and address methane emissions, and our measurement of emissions, with the aim to lower our emissions in support of our greenhouse gas emissions plans.
Our 2030 plans are expected to result in a 20%-30% reduction in corporate-wide greenhouse gas intensity, including reductions of 40%-50% in upstream intensity, 70%-80% in corporate-wide methane intensity and 60%-70% in corporate-wide flaring intensity. These plans apply to Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from our operated assets versus 2016 levels.
Our actions to reduce emissions through 2030 include:
- Achieving net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions in our Permian Basin unconventional operated assets.
- Deploying carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, and lower-emission fuels in our operations.
- Further reducing methane emissions at operated assets in alignment with the Global Methane Pledge and the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative developed by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative. To do this, we’re deploying best practices and advanced technologies, including satellite, aerial, and ground-sensor networks.
- Further reducing flaring in upstream operations to meet the World Bank Zero Routine Flaring Initiative, which mitigates methane and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Integrating energy sources with lower emissions into our facilities, for example through long-term renewable power purchase agreements and equipment electrification.
- Improving energy efficiency in our businesses by adapting operational and maintenance processes, such as improving furnace performance.
- Substituting blue hydrogen for natural gas to reduce emissions from our manufacturing operations.
- Deploying innovative solutions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions with future advancements in technology and supportive policies.
Progress toward 2030 greenhouse gas emission-reduction plans3,4
Approach to greenhouse gas emissions reductions in business planning
We incorporate actions needed to advance our 2030 emission-reduction objectives into our medium-term business plans, which we update annually. The reference case for planning beyond 2030, including impairment assessments and future planned development activities, is based on our Global Outlook. The Outlook considers the existing global policy environment, announced policy changes, technology advances, consumer preferences and the historical precedents for each of these areas. It does not attempt to project the degree of future policy, technology advancement, or deployment necessary for the world or ExxonMobil to meet net zero by 2050. As additional policies are implemented and technology advances beyond our estimates, we incorporate those changes into the Outlook and update our business plans accordingly as part of our annual planning cycle.
Potential GHG abatement options for ExxonMobil operated assets supporting 2030 GHG emission-reduction plans5
FOOTNOTES:
- These charts illustrate potential greenhouse gas abatement options for Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. These options are not all-inclusive and are subject to change as a result of a number of factors, including abatement reduction magnitude, implementation timing, abatement cost, portfolio changes, policy developments, technology advancements, and as annual company plans are updated. Includes energy attribute certificates, such as renewable energy certificates (RECs) and guarantees of origin (GOOs).
- ExxonMobil’s 2030 GHG emission reduction plans, https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/news/news-releases/2021/1201_exxonmobil-announces-plans-to-2027-doubling-earnings-and-cash-flow-potential-reducing-emissions.
- Ibid.
- Based on Scope 1 and 2 emissions of ExxonMobil operated assets through 2022 (versus 2016). ExxonMobil’s reported emissions, reductions, and avoidance performance data are based on a combination of measured and estimated emissions data using reasonable efforts and collection methods. Calculations are based on industry standards and best practices, including guidance from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Ipieca. There is uncertainty associated with the emissions, reductions, and avoidance performance data due to variation in the processes and operations, the availability of sufficient data, quality of those data, and methodology used for measurement and estimation. Performance data may include rounding. Changes to the performance data may be reported as part of the company’s annual publications as new or updated data and/or emission methodologies become available. We are working to continuously improve our performance and methods to detect, measure and address greenhouse gas emissions. ExxonMobil works with industry, including API and Ipieca, to improve emission factors and methodologies, including measurements, and estimates.
- These charts illustrate potential greenhouse gas abatement options for Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. These options are not all-inclusive and are subject to change as a result of a number of factors, including abatement reduction magnitude, implementation timing, abatement cost, portfolio changes, policy developments, technology advancements, and as annual company plans are updated. Includes energy attribute certificates, such as renewable energy certificates (RECs) and guarantees of origin (GOOs).
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT RELEVANT TO FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND OTHER IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
Images or statements of future ambitions, plans, goals, events, projects, projections, opportunities, 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, 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 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 Upstream Permian Basin unconventional operated assets by 2030, 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 greenhouse gas emission reduction plans or goals, divestment and start-up plans, and associated project plans; technology advances including in the timing and outcome of projects to capture and store CO2 supply lower-emission fuels, produce hydrogen, produce lithium, obtain data on detection, measurement and quantification of emissions including reporting of that data or updates to previous estimates, and use plastic waste as feedstock for advanced recycling; progress in sustainability focus areas; and reserve or resource changes could vary depending on changes in supply and demand and other market factors affecting future prices of oil, gas, petrochemical or new market products and services; future cash flows; our ability to execute operational objectives on a timely and successful basis; policy and consumer support for emission-reduction and other advanced products and technology; changes in international treaties, laws, regulations and incentives, including those greenhouse gas emissions, plastics, carbon storage and carbon costs; 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, CCS, hydrogen production, or direct lithium extraction on a commercially competitive basis; availability of feedstocks for lower-emission fuels, hydrogen, or advanced recycling; changes in the relative energy mix across activities and geographies; the actions of competitors; changes in regional and global economic growth rates and consumer preferences; actions taken by governments and consumers resulting from a pandemic; changes in population growth, economic development or migration patterns; military build-ups, armed conflicts, or terrorism; and other factors discussed in this release and in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in ExxonMobil’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2022 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, as well as under the heading “Factors Affecting Future Results” on the Investors page of ExxonMobil’s website at www.exxonmobil.com. The Advancing Climate Solutions Report includes 2022 greenhouse gas emissions performance data and Scope 3 Category 11 estimates for full-year 2022 as of March 1, 2023. The greenhouse gas intensity and greenhouse gas emission estimates include Scope 2 market-based emissions. The Sustainability Report, the Advancing Climate Solutions Report, and corresponding Executive Summaries were issued on Jan. 8, 2024. The content and data referenced in these publications focus primarily on our operations from Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2022, unless otherwise indicated. Tables on our “Metrics and data” page were updated on April 26, 2024, to reflect full-year 2023 data. Information regarding some known events or activities in 2023 are also included. No party should place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates of these publications. All forward-looking statements are based on management’s knowledge and reasonable expectations at the time of publication. We do not undertake to provide any further updates or changes to any data or forward-looking statements in these publications. Neither future distribution of this material nor the continued availability of this material in archive form on our website should be deemed to constitute an update or re-affirmation of these figures or statements as of any future date. Any future update will be provided only through a public disclosure indicating that fact.
ABOUT THE ADVANCING CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS
The Advancing Climate Solutions Report contains terms used by the TCFD, as well as information about how the disclosures in this report are consistent with the recommendations of the TCFD. In doing so, ExxonMobil is not obligating itself to use any terms in the way defined by the TCFD or any other party, nor is it obligating itself to comply with any specific recommendation of the TCFD or to provide any specific disclosure. For example, with respect to the term “material,” individual companies are best suited to determine what information is material, under the long-standing U.S. Supreme Court definition, and whether to include this information in U.S. Securities and Exchange Act filings. In addition, the ISSB is evaluating standards that provide their interpretation of TCFD which may or may not be consistent with the current TCFD recommendations.
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Actions needed to advance ExxonMobil’s 2030 greenhouse gas emission-reductions plans are incorporated into its medium-term business plans, which are updated annually. The reference case for planning beyond 2030 is based on the Company’s Global Outlook research and publication. The Global Outlook is reflective of the existing global policy environment and an assumption of increasing policy stringency and technology improvement to 2050. However, the Global Outlook does not attempt to project the degree of required future policy and technology advancement and deployment for the world, or ExxonMobil, to meet net zero by 2050. As future policies and technology advancements emerge, they will be incorporated into the GIobal Outlook, and the Company’s business plans will be updated as appropriate. References to projects or opportunities may not reflect investment decisions made by the corporation or its affiliates. Individual projects or opportunities may advance based on a number of factors, including availability of supportive policy, permitting, technological advancement for cost-effective abatement, insights from the company planning process, and alignment with our partners and other stakeholders. Capital investment guidance in lower-emission investments is based on our corporate plan; however, actual investment levels will be subject to the availability of the opportunity set, public policy support, other factors, and focused on returns.
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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR NON-GAAP AND OTHER MEASURES
The Resiliency 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.