The overall accountability for sustainable development within Shell lies with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Executive Committee. They set priorities and standards in sustainable development that help shape our business activities. The CEO chairs the Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Social Performance (HSSE & SP) Executive, which reviews and assesses how we manage our sustainability performance.
All employees and contractors working for Shell, including those at joint ventures we operate, are required to act in accordance with our mandatory HSSE & SP Control Framework. This defines standards and accountabilities at each level of the organisation. The accountability for running our projects and facilities responsibly lies with our business managers. They work with communities, non-governmental organisations, partners and others to better understand and address the impact of our operations. HSSE & SP specialists work with business managers to implement our standards to help improve our sustainability performance. We have comprehensive assurance processes in place to monitor compliance.
The Corporate and Social Responsibility Committee (CSRC) of the Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc reviews policies and performance with respect to the Shell General Business Principles, Code of Conduct, HSSE & SP standards and issues of public concern on behalf of the Board. Besides its regular meetings, the CSRC visits facilities to become more familiar with our operations. In 2012, the CSRC visited Nigeria and observed the environmental damage from illegal refining in the Niger Delta. While there, it also visited facilities and met with government officials, community representatives and local non-governmental organisations. During a visit to Shell’s UK operations in the North Sea, the CSRC saw how safety is managed on an oil and gas platform.