By Justin Scheck
LONDON-- Royal Dutch Shell PLC Chairman Jorma Ollila is joining
Chief Executive Ben van Beurden in backing efforts to limit carbon
emissions ahead of international climate talks in Paris later this
year.
Mr. Ollila was set to tell employees Wednesday that society must
find a "middle way" that "doesn't threaten economic growth,"
according to a transcript of a speech the company disseminated.
"Shell has been open and firm in its advocacy of cleaner-burning
natural gas, carbon capture and storage," which takes carbon from
combustion and stores it in places like underground reservoirs "and
carbon pricing. And we're hopeful that policy makers will recognize
the value of all three at the gathering in Paris later this year,"
the transcript says.
Shell, which is heavily invested in big, long-lived natural gas
projects, has been increasingly vocal in calling for energy
companies to participate with policy makers in addressing climate
change.
Mr. van Beurden told an oil-industry conference last month that
oil companies should support a carbon-pricing system as well as "a
shift from coal to natural gas."
Mr. Ollila offered examples of Shell innovations, including a
U.K. carbon storage plan, new natural gas production and
transportation plans in Australia, and "gas-to-liquids production
in Qatar," a process with heavy carbon emissions that converts
natural gas to diesel-like liquid fuel.
Shell, said Mr. Ollila, who is stepping down as chairman later
this year, also said Shell supports a resolution at its annual
general meeting calling for more transparency in how climate change
affects its business.
"Society needs to find a middle way," he said, according to the
Shell transcript. "To support the transition from one energy system
to another in a manner which doesn't threaten economic growth or
deny emerging economic access to much needed energy."
Write to Justin Scheck at justin.scheck@wsj.com
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