- Write Archbishop of Canterbury
- Say Shell’s Net-zero Carbon Emissions Proposal ‘Misleading’
40 Civil Society Organisations based in Nigeria and around Africa have asked the Church of England to not endorse a climate and energy plan put forward by the global oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Shell, in its climate plan was said to be considering net-zero emissions as solution to the climate crisis. According to reports, Shell has equally mobilized its investors to vote on its energy transition strategy.
But climate activists often consider the net-zero emissions strategy as a diversionary tactic away from the real solution which is to stop carborn emissions altogether, rather than aiming at neutralizing emissions by planting trees and through carbon capture and storage mechanism alone. Campaigners believe the strategy will further allow big polluters like Shell to fiddle around some more, while global warming and its devastation continue, slowing down the actualisation of the Paris Agreement targets.
The CSOs in a letter seen by The New Diplomat, written to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd. Justin Welby, expressed their displeasure at the support given to the Shell’s plan by the Church of England’s Pensions Board. The letter dated 10th May, 2021 was signed by Rev. David Ugolor, Convener and Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) on behalf of the 40 CSOs involved in the campaign, including Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
The coalition, who lauded the Archbishop for convening global faith leaders ahead of the Glasgow Climate summit, however, asked the globally renowned clergy to discard the Shell climate plan, having expressed an urgent need to tackle the climate emergency in a recent statement.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was quoted in the letter to have said: “We all have both a moral and financial responsibility to address the climate emergency and to use those tools available to us to support the goals of the Paris Agreement. For Christians and people of conscience, this is even more so when you see the impacts on the world’s poorest and least equipped to adapt to extreme weather, as well as the impacts on the beauty of God’s creation”.
While encouraging Archbishop Welby to continue to stay true to his commitment on the climate, the CSOs urged him “to use all the tools available.. to encourage all parts of the Church of England to challenge Shell, rather than champion the corporation’s climate and energy plan.”
The coalition described Shell as an organisation that has a “track record of misleading statements and commitments,” noting that it has failed to deliver on its claim of accountability and transparency to the Nigerian people, following decades of environmental despoliation from its oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta, leading to endless lawsuits around the world.
The CSOs who urged Welby to work against plans to vote and endorse Shell’s climate and energy plan at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Church of England’s Pensions Board, further noted that “Shell’s rush to find land for ‘nature-based solutions’ might well lead to further carbon colonialism, slavery and human rights violations in the global south.”
The letter copied to the Chair of the Church of England Pensions Board and other Church of England Leaders reads: “In that context, we are extremely disappointed and concerned to see that the Church of England Pensions Board is lending its moral and financial authority to Shell, and plans to vote for Shell’s climate and energy plan at its 2021 Annual Meeting. We urge you to use all the tools available to you to encourage all parts of the Church of England to challenge Shell, rather than champion the corporation’s climate and energy plan.
“In a recent article the Church of England Pensions Board’s Chief Responsible Investment Officer wrote that Shell’s ”goal is clear and unambiguous, and Shell is accountable for delivering that target”. We strongly disagree. Nigeria has deep experience with Shell, and as representatives of Nigerian citizens’ groups we wish to tell you that we feel that the company is the opposite of accountable to most Nigerians, and has a track record of misleading statements and commitments.
“Shell should not be rewarded for setting a long-term ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – we need urgent action now, starting this year.
“It is not acceptable for the Church to sign off on a Shell plan for this decade that makes no absolute carbon emission reduction pledges, includes huge increases in gas production, and relies on improbably large amounts of tree-planting. Indeed, Shell’s rush to find land for ‘nature-based solutions’ might well lead to further carbon colonialism, slavery and human rights violations in the global south.
“Aiming for net-zero carbon emissions has become another effort by polluting entities like Shell to avoid cutting emissions but rather continue in the harmful practices that drive global warming. Net zero is not zero emissions.
“It means polluting and assuming the equivalent amount of carbon is absorbed by trees or is mechanically captured and stored by an assortment of risky and unregulated geoengineering proposals. Endorsing Shell’s plan is akin to handing the corporation a right to toy with planetary systems while the poor and vulnerable continue to fight a losing battle against global warming.
“The Church of England has an important voice in the world on many topics. And on Shell your responsibility is even weightier, as you lead engagement with the company on behalf of the Climate Action 100+, an initiative involving over 500 investors worth $54 trillion.
“With the effects of climate change more visible every year, the future of our children is at stake, in Nigeria, Africa and around the world. We hope that you hear our call, and take urgent steps to ensure that the church reconsiders its position on Shell. Endorsing the cynical climate plan offered by Shell would mean believing that Earth systems operate according to the principles of calculus and negates the truth that the Earth is a wonderfully created system of
interdependent and complex systems that no man can control by mechanical contraptions or imaginations for the sole aim of meeting shareholder’s pleasure.
We urge you to continue to support our demands for ecological justice and the protection of our environment and will be happy to continue the dialogue with you as we look forward to a positive response.”
CSO leaders who signed the letter include:
Rev. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation; Ken Henshaw, We The People; Joel Bisina, Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE-Africa); Bridget Emem, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre; Edem Edem, Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE); Umo Isua-Ikoh, Peace Point Development Foundation; Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy &
Development (FENRAD Nigeria; Amb. Clinton Ikechukwu Ezeigwe, Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation; Tijani Abdulkareem, Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC); Abiodun Oyeleye, New Initiative for Social Development (NISD); Tijah Bolton Akpan, Policy Alert; Akinbode Oluwafemi, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa; Mrs Nne Umoren, Women Initiative for Climate Change; Ms Idongesit Alexander, League of Queens International Empowerment; Mrs Nwindee Namon, Gbogbia Feefeelo of K-Dere; Mrs Regina Fabian Asanga, Rural Health and Women Development.
Emeka Ogazi, Transparency and Economic Development Initiative (TEDI); Dr. David Tola Winjobi, Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development; Mrs Lilian Ekeanyanwu, CPDE Nigeria; Bako Abdullazeez Centre for citizen Rights; Aroh Silverleen, Save the Child Initiative; Olusola Adeosun, Community Heritage Watch for Development initiatives; Keme Opia, Bayelsa NGOs forum; Felix Ekhator New Apostolic Church Centre for Development; Israel Orekha, Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development initiative; Inyingi Irimagha, Gender and Development Action, GADA; Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative, (CERLSI); Dr. Jude Obasanm, Josemaria Escriva Foundation; Chris Azor, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC); Grace Ese Obakina, Caring Hearts Initiative For Advocacy Development and Empowerment (CHIADE); Onose Martha, Community Empowerment and Development Initiative; Abiola Daisy Igaga, Take a Cue Development Initiative (TACDI); Batholomeu Okoudo, Keep Hope Alive Community Development Initiative; Doris Ogbeifun, Society for Empowered Youth Development; Philip Slabor, Development Initiators; Emeka Ezeigwe, Global initiative for Citizens Advocacy and Representation (GICAR); Agatha Erhabor, Women Youths and Children Advancement Program; Mrs Deborah Olaolu Salami, CAFSO-WRAG for Development; Perseverance Umukoro, Oghara Centre for Social Justice.
