greenhouse gas managementwe're taking steps to manage greenhouse gases
Chevron supports the Paris Agreement and views it as an important step toward global engagement and cooperation to address climate change. We are taking action to reduce the carbon intensity of the company’s operations. Chevron believes in taking prudent, practical and cost-effective actions to address climate change risks.
We have robust risk management processes in place that we believe effectively address climate change-related risks. We consider greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions issues, climate change risks and carbon pricing risks in our strategies, business planning and risk management tools and processes.
Across our operations, the primary sources of our GHG emissions are combustion of fuels and, in some locations, flaring and venting of the natural gas (methane) that is extracted along with crude oil.
We are committed to managing our GHG emissions by lowering carbon intensity cost efficiently, increasing renewables to support our business and investing in the future targeting breakthrough technologies.
lower carbon intensity cost efficiently

established four goals to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2023*
5-10%
lower oil net GHG intensity
2-5%
lower gas net GHG intensity
25-30%
lower flaring intensity
20-25%
lower methane emissions intensity
* Based on 2016 emissions levels
For more information about Chevron’s position on climate change, see our Climate Change page.
enhancing transparency with investors and stakeholders
Our strong governance practices provide a framework for enhancing transparency related to climate change. For example, in response to growing interest from our investors and stakeholders, Chevron voluntarily published three dedicated climate reports over the last three years, largely using the recommendations of the Task Force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). These reports explain our strategic decision-making approach as it relates to climate change-related risks and opportunities, including our ongoing evaluations of our portfolio and future investments. As we’ve shared in our reports, these evaluations confirm that our mature and diverse portfolio is resilient in many scenarios and our asset mix enables us to be flexible in response to potential changes. You can find out more about our performance data on the Sustainability Reporting page.
energy efficiency
flaring reduction
To align employee—including management—incentives with achieving progress on climate-related issues, the Board of Directors set Upstream intensity reduction metrics of 25 to 30 percent for flaring and 20 to 25 percent for methane emissions for the 2016–2023 time period. These new performance measures are used to determine our annual variable pay program that affects approximately 45,000 employees.
Methane accounts for approximately 5 percent of Chevron’s total GHG emissions. Approximately a third of the 5 percent are considered fugitive emissions, or leaks from equipment and piping; of the remaining emissions, most are generated by flaring and venting.
Since 2013, Chevron has reduced flaring and associated emissions by 22 percent. We have developed internal country-specific plans to minimize gas flaring, and we are a member of the World Bank–led Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership. Chevron flares natural gas only when required for safety and operational purposes and in areas where pipelines and other alternatives for transporting gas do not exist.
For an in-depth look at Chevron's emissions data, refer to our Corporate Sustainability Report.

Mayomona de Miguel, Gas and Energy management advisor, Southern Africa Business Unit
work location: Luanda, Angola
hometown: Luanda, Angola
Mayomona de Miguel, Gas and Energy management advisor, Southern Africa Business Unit
work location: Luanda, Angola
hometown: Luanda, Angola
managing fugitive methane emissions
We continue to design, construct and operate our facilities with an eye toward reducing emissions from our operations and limiting fugitive emissions. We monitor and verify the integrity of our wells and production equipment with regular inspections and safety tests. To more efficiently track fugitive emissions, we use infrared cameras in select oil and gas operations to help pinpoint and remedy leaks. We continue to test and deploy new innovations to improve our capacity to detect and reduce emissions.
Our leadership in this area includes being a founding member of the American Petroleum Institute–led Environmental Partnership. We have retrofitted or replaced more than 1,000 continuous high-bleed pneumatic controllers from our onshore U.S. facilities with low-emitting or non-continuous-bleed technologies to reduce emissions. In addition to making operational commitments, Chevron has participated in workshops to share best practices with other operators and has taken action to implement the lessons learned from these workshops.
In addition, Chevron provides financial and technical support to research efforts, including the Collaboratory to Advance Methane Science and the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). Chevron also continues to serve on the Industrial Advisory Board of the Methane Emissions Test and Evaluation Center (METEC), a Colorado State University and U.S. Department of Energy advanced research facility.
methane guiding principles
Consistent with our ongoing efforts to reduce methane emissions from our global operations, Chevron has joined other energy companies supporting the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership Guiding Principles. As part of our commitment to these Guiding Principles, we will strive to improve accuracy of methane emissions data, advocate sound policies and regulations on methane emissions and work to increase transparency. This commitment is aligned with our already strong environmental principles which guide how we develop energy in an environmentally responsible manner throughout the life of our assets in all countries where we do business.


Beverly Coleman, Ph.D., Air Technology engineer, Energy Technology Company
work location: San Ramon, California
hometown: Austin, Texas
Beverly Coleman, Ph.D., Air Technology engineer, Energy Technology Company
work location: San Ramon, California
hometown: Austin, Texas
carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)
CCUS is part of a portfolio of emerging GHG-mitigation technologies that can help manage future emissions, although the economics of this technology remain challenging. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), CCUS is an important tool for mitigating GHG emissions and meeting the goals expressed in the Paris Agreement. CCUS is one of the key focus areas for the OGCI’s $1 billion+ investment fund, which aims to invest in projects that demonstrate commercial viability and scalability.
Chevron has invested approximately $1.1 billion in CCUS projects, including Gorgon’s Carbon Dioxide Injection Project – one of the world’s largest integrated carbon capture and storage projects in operation. Once operational, these projects are expected to reduce GHG emissions by nearly 5 million metric tons per year, approximately equivalent to GHG emissions from annual electricity usage in 620,000 U.S. homes’ combined. In addition, Chevron has invested more than $75 million in CCUS research and development over the past decade.
increase renewables to support our business
invest in the future targeting breakthrough technologies


*CO2-equivalent, direct (Scope 1), operated basis. Transportation includes Chevron Pipe Line Company and Chevron Shipping Company. Power includes Chevron Power and Energy Management Company. Other includes Americas Products, International Products, Chevron Lubricants, Chevron Oronite Company, Chevron Building and Real Estate Services, Chevron Aviation Services, Chevron Environmental Management Company, and Chevron Information Technology Company.
**Process emissions, vented sources, combustion sources and fugitive sources are defined by API's Compendium of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Methodologies for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry (2004, 2009); CO2-equivalent, direct (Scope 1), operated basis.
resources
- 2019 Annual Report pdf opens in new window
- 2019 Corporate Sustainability Report pdf opens in new window
- The Chevron Way - English pdf opens in new window
- Climate change resilience: a framework for decision making pdf opens in new window
- Chevron's climate change policy principles
- Learn more about our corporate sustainability activities and results
- Managing climate change risks: a perspective for investors pdf opens in new window
- Independent review of Chevron’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory pdf opens in new window
- Carbon Disclosure Project’s 2017 response for Chevron Corporation pdf opens in new window
- View archive of previous years’ reports
- Chevron Believes in Climate Change pdf opens in new window