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Biodiversity

In 2022, the world adopted a global framework with the ambition of halting the biodiversity decline by 2030 and putting nature back on the road to restoration by 2050. These initiatives are complementary to actions taken to combat climate change, which has been identified as the third greatest cause of biodiversity loss⁽¹⁾. As part of its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, together with society, TotalEnergies is taking action to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity. The stakes are high for the Company, since its activities are sometimes located in sensitive areas and may have an impact on ecosystems. Therefore, our strategy involves reconciling the development of energy resources with the protection of biodiversity to build a sustainable future.

Our biodiversity policy is based on four commitments: respect our voluntary exclusion zones, manage biodiversity in our new projects, manage biodiversity at our existing sites, and promote biodiversity. We are also forging partnerships and leading specific R&D programs to ensure that biodiversity is taken into account in all our operations.

Environment indicators (XLS)

⁽¹⁾ Source: IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) ↑

Respecting our voluntary exclusion zones

We recognize the universal value of UNESCO Natural World Heritage areas and agree not to conduct any oil or gas extraction activities in these areas or any oil exploration activities in the Arctic Sea ice areas. Finally, we agree to publicly report on the implementation of these commitments.

Find out how we respect our voluntary exclusion zones (PDF)

Managing biodiversity in our new projects 

We are committed to implementing a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for each new site located in an area of interest for biodiversity, namely IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Category I to IV areas and Ramsar sites, which include wetlands of international importance. In addition, for each new project located in an IUCN Category I or II area or a Ramsar site, TotalEnergies takes measures to generate a net positive impact (gain) on biodiversity confirmed by a third-party institution.

Discover all our biodiversity action plans worldwide (PDF)

Managing biodiversity at our existing sites

A biodiversity action plan has been defined and is currently being rolled out at all our environmentally significant industrial sites in line with our 2025 objective.

The most common actions in these biodiversity action plans include reducing light and noise pollution, restoring terrestrial habitats, tackling invasive species, creating shelters for certain species, and setting up partnerships with local NGOs. These actions form part of the: Avoid - Minimize/Restore - Offset mitigation hierarchy.

In addition, when sites reach their end of life, we assess the prospect of creating areas rich in biodiversity (habitats for rare species, biodiversity sanctuaries, etc.) as an option for their rehabilitation.

Biodiversity surveys have been conducted at our 77 environmentally significant sites, and the associated biodiversity action plans are currently being rolled out, i.e. 100% the 2025 target.

100%

of our environmentally significant sites have a biodiversity action plan

Find out how we protect biodiversity at our existing sites (PDF)

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Promoting biodiversity

As part of the climate, coastal areas and oceans focus area within the TotalEnergies Foundation program, the Company is looking to promote biodiversity by supporting awareness-raising and educational actions among young people, as well as research initiatives. We are also committed to sharing the data collected from environmental studies into our projects with the scientific community and the general public.

To share its biodiversity data and tools with the scientific community, TotalEnergies relies on global platforms such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and shares at least five complete datasets with GBIF each year.

Find out how we raise greater public awareness of biodiversity issues (PDF)

Zero net deforestation

Forest ecosystems play a crucial role for biodiversity. That is why we pay special attention to preserving these ecosystems. We have set ourselves a “zero net deforestation” objective for any new project at a new site from 2022.

We preserve forests (PDF)

R&D and partnerships to promote biodiversity

To ensure that its operations always give due consideration to biodiversity, TotalEnergies works with scientific partners, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Wildlife Conservation Society NGO and Ecotrust.

Our partnerships for biodiversity (PDF) 

Our transition in action: biodiversity

Since 2010, the Zeeland platform (Netherlands), which we operate as a joint venture with Lukoil (45%), has been implementing an active biodiversity management policy on the site and in the surrounding area. The commitments made at Zeeland aim to preserve and stimulate the local flora and fauna.