Energy & Carbon Summary
Describes how ExxonMobil is doing its part to address the dual challenge of ensuring the world has the energy it needs while also minimizing climate-change risks.
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Our plan to drive meaningful near-term emission reductions
Delivering real results to address the risks of climate change
With a longstanding commitment to investments in technology and the ingenuity of our people, ExxonMobil is well positioned to continue to provide the energy that is essential to improving lives around the world, while managing the risks of climate change.
What we've done
2020 emission reductions
15% reduction in methane emissions*
25% reduction in flaring*
*compared to 2016 levels
Since 2000
~520M
tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions eliminated or avoided from operations.
Equivalent of removing 110M passenger vehicles off the road for a year.
Since 2000
>$10B
Enabled customer emission reduction
We are delivering products and solutions that enable customers to meet product performance requirements while reducing their emissions and improving energy efficiency across the supply chain.
Products and solutions include:
R&D Investment
Our sustained investment in R&D plays an important role in positioning ExxonMobil to develop breakthrough solutions in areas such as carbon capture, biofuels, hydrogen, and energy-efficient process technology.
Investments primarily focused on reducing emissions from the three sectors that emit 80 percent of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions: power generation, industrial, and commercial transportation.
Invested in technology that could capture more than 90 percent of CO2 and prove up to six times more effective than conventional technology.
Partnered with governments, academia, and industry to research and commercialize biofuels, direct air capture, and lower the cost of carbon capture and storage to help support society's ambition of net-zero emissions by 2050.
What we're planning to do
We recently announced a plan to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our global operations by 2025, while aiming for industry-leading greenhouse gas performance by 2030. This plan represents some of the most aggressive reductions in the industry.
Driving emissions down
The 2025 plan*
15-20%
reduction in greenhouse gas intensity of our Upstream operations
*ExxonMobil's emission reduction plans are compared to 2016 levels and cover Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from assets operated by the company.
Supported by
40-50%
reduction in methane intensity
___________________________
35-45%
reduction in flaring intensity
Expected to deliver
~30%
reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions in our Upstream business
___________________________
40-50%
reduction in absolute flaring and methane emissions
We respect and support society’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and continue to advocate for policies that promote cost-effective, market-based solutions to address the risks of climate change.
Darren W. Woods
FAQs
Why is ExxonMobil focusing on intensity in addition to absolute emissions?
We believe GHG intensity is the best way to measure progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement, because it is the truest reflection of how manufacturing companies like ExxonMobil are reducing the GHGs associated with each unit they produce.
Read moreIs ExxonMobil making a Net Zero pledge?
We respect and support society’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Rather than setting aspirational 2050 pledges, we will continue to take defined actions to reduce our emissions in achievable time periods, while developing and deploying technology solutions that will be necessary to achieve this ambitious and challenging goal.
Read moreWhat is ExxonMobil’s approach to renewables like wind and solar?
Renewable energies like wind and solar will play an important role in the transition to lower-carbon energy sources. ExxonMobil uses renewable energy to help power its operations. Overall we are the second largest buyer of wind and solar power in the oil and gas industry.
Read moreWhy is ExxonMobil focusing on intensity in addition to absolute emissions?
We believe GHG intensity is the best way to measure progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement, because it is the truest reflection of how manufacturing companies like ExxonMobil are reducing the GHGs associated with each unit they produce.
Read moreIs ExxonMobil making a Net Zero pledge?
We respect and support society’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Rather than setting aspirational 2050 pledges, we will continue to take defined actions to reduce our emissions in achievable time periods, while developing and deploying technology solutions that will be necessary to achieve this ambitious and challenging goal.
Read moreWhat is ExxonMobil’s approach to renewables like wind and solar?
Renewable energies like wind and solar will play an important role in the transition to lower-carbon energy sources. ExxonMobil uses renewable energy to help power its operations. Overall we are the second largest buyer of wind and solar power in the oil and gas industry.
Read moreExxonMobil’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are projected to be consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
ExxonMobil’s support for the Paris Agreement
In December 2015, after more than two decades of international effort, nations convened in Paris and drafted an agreement that for the first time signaled that both developed and developing nations will strive to undertake action on climate change and report on related progress.
The Paris Agreement “aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change … by: Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.”
The company has supported the Paris Agreement from its inception and continues to support U.S. government participation in the framework. ExxonMobil assesses its business strategy and plans against a range of scenarios, including those that meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement, which assume progress in technologies, infrastructure and government policies related to climate change.
Scope 3 GHG emissions
ExxonMobil is providing Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions – those emissions associated with consumers’ use of our products – on an annual basis. Reducing these indirect emissions will require changes in society's energy choices and the development and deployment of affordable, lower-emission technologies.
For the full picture of ExxonMobil’s current emissions reporting, please view our Energy & Carbon Summary.
Investing to reduce emissions
Reducing methane emissions by leveraging terabytes
Effectively managing methane and reducing flaring
ExxonMobil exceeded its goals announced in 2018 to reduce methane emissions by 15 percent and flaring by 25 percent by 2020, compared with 2016 levels.
Learn more about ExxonMobil’s steps to curb methane emissions
Offering a model regulatory framework for industry to reduce emissions
Reducing flaring in the Permian
Learn more about
Energy & Carbon Summary
ExxonMobil has a long history of responsibly meeting society‘s evolving need for energy in a reliable and sustainable manner. With a longstanding commitment to investments in technology and the ingenuity of our people, we are well positioned to continue to provide the energy that is essential to improving lives around the world, while managing the risks of climate change.
ExxonMobil public engagement on climate policy
There are few challenges more important than meeting the world’s growing demand for energy while reducing environmental impacts and the risks of climate change. ExxonMobil supports the 2015 Paris Agreement and believes the company has a constructive role to play in developing solutions.
Innovating lower-emission energy solutions: R&D highlights
R&D has been part of ExxonMobil’s DNA since our company began more than 135 years ago. Our innovations have helped provide the energy fundamental to modern life – from the clean, efficient fuels that power today’s transportation to the natural gas that provides light and heat to homes and businesses.
Energy and innovation
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the process of capturing and injecting CO2 into underground geological formations for permanent storage.
Algae and advanced biofuels
Scientists at ExxonMobil are working to transform algae and plant waste into biofuels that could one day be used for transportation. These advanced biofuels offer the possibility of achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions compared to today’s transportation fuels.
Energy and innovation
University and national labs partnerships
We collaborate with leading universities and institutions around the world as part of our commitment to finding meaningful and scalable solutions to meet global energy demand, while also minimizing the environmental impacts of energy use, including the risks of climate change.
Partnering with more than 80 leading research universities, including Princeton, Stanford and MIT
ExxonMobil has worked with dozens of leading universities and academic research institutions around the world as part of our commitment to finding meaningful and scalable solutions to meet global energy demand and reduce emissions.
Working with the Department of Energy’s National Labs on lower-emission technologies
ExxonMobil will work with the Department of Energy’s National Labs to bring lower emission technologies to commercial scale. This work includes collaborative research in areas such as biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and lifecycle analysis.