Home > Press releases > 2004 > Shell Failing on all Fronts?

Making life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental problems

2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994

Shell Failing on all Fronts?

Mar 18 2004

Commenting on Shell's announcement today that it has further reduced its "proved reserves" and postponed its annual report and AGM, Friends of the Earth's Head of Corporate Accountability Craig Bennett said:

"Environmental groups and the people living next to Shell's polluting operations have known for years that the company is adept at overstating its social and environmental performance. So, it comes as no shock to us to hear that they've also been overstating their performance in other areas.

"This company is long overdue a management overhaul. They need to start putting less effort into spin and more into substance to build a company that is fit for the 21^st century. Perhaps the Government will now realise that failure to ensure a sensible legal framework - across social, economic and environmental issues - actually harms British business in the long term.

Friends of the Earth is calling for changes in UK company law to prevent British companies operating in ways that damage communities and the environment. It wants the UK Government to:

• Introduce new legal obligations on companies to report annually on the impact of their operations, policies, products and procurement practices on people and the environment in the UK and abroad.

• Introduce legal duties on directors to take reasonable steps to reduce any significant negative social or environmental impacts.

• Introduce foreign direct liability to enable affected communities abroad to seek redress in the UK for human rights and environmental abuses resulting from the actions of British companies.

Friends of the Earth's alternative Shell report, highlighting the company's damaging impacts on communities and the environment can be found at:

www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/failing_challenge.pdf (PDF format)

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

Copyright © Friends of the Earth | Contact Us |
Support Friends of the Earth