Advocacy Principles

TotalEnergies is a major multi-energy player on the international scene, dedicated to providing accessible & affordable energy with less emissions. Present in close to 130 countries and strongly grounded on the commitment of more than 100,000 people, from a wide range of origins, professions, and know-how, TotalEnergies is implementing its ambition to be Net Zero by 2050 together with society. Today, the Company is a player that has to interact not only with the various representatives of the economic world but also with the local populations in the areas in which it is established as well as with the public authorities. As such, the Company plays an active role in the public debate.

The Company complies with all national and international laws and standards governing its activities. It abides by the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises as well as the principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

Aware of its responsibility in all the countries and territories in which it is present, TotalEnergies carries out its advocacy efforts in accordance with the values set out in its Code of Conduct, which clearly affirms its ethical commitment. For the purpose of this website, advocacy has the meaning conferred to it under the widely accepted Transparency International definition, which defines the advocacy as "the fact that an entity intervenes directly or indirectly with public officials, through various means, in order to influence a public decision in a sense that serves particular interests, values or a cause".

The Company’s advocacy efforts are carried out in accordance with principles set out in its internal directive, which cannot be waived under any circumstances and in particular:

  • In any circumstances, TotalEnergies refuses to intervene in the functioning or financing of the political life in the countries in which it is present. TotalEnergies does not support – and has not supported – neither contribute, financially or in any way, to any political organizations, parties, persons or campaigns.
  • The Code of Conduct asserts TotalEnergies’ position on the prevention and fight against fraud of any kind, particularly bribery and corruption, influence peddling and violations of antitrust law, and sets forth a principle of “ZERO TOLERANCE”. TotalEnergies rejects and fights corruption in all forms, whether public or private, active or passive, direct or indirect.
  • As stated in its Universal Registration Document, TotalEnergies believes that transparency is an essential principle of action in building a trust-based relationship with its stakeholders and ensuring that the Company is on a path of continuous improvement. Pending the adoption of an international, standardized non-financial reporting framework, TotalEnergies is making every effort to report its performance on the basis of the various commonly used ESG reporting frameworks.
  • TotalEnergies supports the objectives of the Paris Agreement relating to the fight against climate change.
  • Furthermore, TotalEnergies has placed sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its strategy, projects and operations, in order to contribute to the well-being of the populations. It committed in 2016 its support to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2002. As such, the Company promotes the mobilization of the private sector in favor of the SDGs, for example by signing the call to action published in September 2023 (French only).

Principles and positions upheld by TotalEnergies

Climate change

Regarding the fight against climate change, TotalEnergies promotes the following six key principles that guide the effort and the strategy of the Company:

  1. Scientific position: TotalEnergies recognizes the link established by science between human activities, in particular the use of fossil fuels, and climate change.
  2. The Paris Agreement: TotalEnergies recognizes the Paris Agreement as a major step forward in the fight against global warming and supports the initiatives of the implementing States to fulfill its aims.
  3. Carbon pricing: TotalEnergies supports the implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms. TotalEnergies signed the participant statement on carbon pricing titled "The Energy Transition & Care for our Common Home" at the Vatican on 14 June 2019.
  4. The development of renewable energies: TotalEnergies supports policies, initiatives and technologies aimed at promoting the development of renewable energies (wind,solar) and sustainable bioenergies (biofuels, biogas) as well as energies and technologies aimed at decarbonizing industrial processes and transportation, such as hydrogen, carbon capture and electric vehicles.
  5. The role of natural gas: TotalEnergies supports the role of natural gas as a transition fuel, in particular as a replacement for coal.
  6. Carbon offsetting: TotalEnergies supports the carbon offset mechanisms, in particular the role of natural climate solutions, necessary to achieve carbon neutrality, through organized and certified markets ensuring the quality and sustainability of carbon credits. TotalEnergies supports policies aimed at measuring and reducing methane emissions to move towards the ambition of zero methane emissions.

These key principles are also used as the basis of TotalEnergies' assessment of the industry associations it is member of. They describe how the Company reviews the associations’ climate position and address their alignment - visit the dedicated webpage for more details.

Beyond this survey, TotalEnergies is also a member of other initiatives that contribute to the global effort against climate change.

  • To slash out emissions coming from current energy system:
    • Together with our peers within the CEO-led pioneer entity OGCI (Oil & Gas Climate Initiative) comprised of 12 of the world’s leading energy companies, focusing on the industry’s response to climate change and accelerating action towards a net zero future consistent with the Paris Agreement.
    •  Since COP28, the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC) has been signed by more than 50 international and national O&G companies representing more than 40% of global oil production. During the COP28 conference, these companies pledged to achieve net-zero operations by 2050, end routine flaring by 2030 and near elimination of methane emissions. TotalEnergies is proud to be a signatory of this charter and wishes to collaborate actively in putting the charter's commitments into action.
    • Methane is a greenhouse gas with a much greater warming power than CO2 and a short lifespan in the atmosphere, which makes the fight against methane emissions a priority in efforts to mitigate global warming. climatic. Our Company has set ambitious objectives to aim for zero methane emissions by 2030 and wants to set an example within the industry. As a result, the Compagnie participates in various initiatives to reduce methane emissions:
      • The Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) is the United Nations Environment Programme’s flagship oil and gas reporting and mitigation programme. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas industry that improves the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting. This is key to prioritizing methane mitigation actions in the sector. TotalEnergies is founding member of OGMP 2.0 since its inception in 2020 (https://ogmpartnership.com).
      • The World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) fund launched at COP28 aims to boost global efforts to end routine gas flaring and reduce methane emissions along the entire oil and gas value chain by providing technical assistance, enabling policy and regulatory reform, institutional strengthening, and mobilizing financing to support action by governments and oil & gas operators. The GFMR will target, finance and support strategic projects in countries with the greatest potential for reducing emissions. TotalEnergies has announced a $25 million donation to the GFMR fund over 2024-2030.
      • The Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) partnership, launched in 2017, enables action in industry and government to reduce methane emissions from the natural gas supply chain. Members of the MGP partnership build on the foundation of the five Methane Guiding Principles, which drive efforts in priority areas: Continually Reduce Methane Emissions, Advance Strong Performance across the Gas Supply Chain, Improve Accuracy of Methane Emissions Data, Advocate Sound Policy and Regulations on Methane Emissions and Increase Transparency. Members of the MGP partnership develop and share practical tools and guidance to help others to learn from their experience and put those lessons into practice. TotalEnergies is founding member of the MGP partnership since its inception in 2017 (https://methaneguidingprinciples.org).
      • The OGCI’s Aiming For Zero Methane Initiative: the Aiming for Zero initiative establishes an all-in approach that treats methane emissions as seriously as the oil and gas industry already treats safety. Signatories of the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative believe that virtually all methane emissions from the industry can and should be avoided (https://aimingforzero.ogci.com).
  • To build the energy system of tomorrow.
    • The low-carbon electrification of energy demand is at the heart of the roadmaps of countries committed to carbon neutrality by 2050. TotalEnergies recently joint a call for world leaders for tripling global renewable energy capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030 (link here).
    • Electricity is a fast-expanding market and TotalEnergies aims at being among the TOP5 renewable producers by 2030.

Find out more about TotalEnergies’ commitments

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