The Social Responsibility Committee is one of four committees of the Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc. Composed of three Non-executive Directors, the Committee takes an active role in assessing and advising the Board on our policies and performance with respect to our Business Principles, Code of Conduct, HSSE and major issues of public concern (see case study Getting in early).
Our Chief Executive has management responsibility for sustainable development. He chairs Shell’s Sustainable Development and HSSE Executive group, which reviews performance and sets priorities, key performance indicators and targets.
The central Social Performance Management Unit, the HSSE function, and issues management staff, challenge and support the separate businesses within Shell, helping them develop skills, share lessons and take a consistent approach to addressing environmental and social issues.
Sustainable development is part of the duties of every manager. Each of our businesses is responsible for complying with our requirements and achieving its specific targets in this area.
MAARTEN VAN DEN BERGH, WIM KOK AND NINA HENDERSON
The Social Responsibility Committee
The Committee is chaired by Wim Kok, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands. It meets four times a year, receiving reports and interviewing management to review how the company is handling existing and emerging environmental and social issues, and impacts at major projects and operations. At every meeting, it receives an update on our HSSE performance, and the progress of the programme to improve it. In 2007, the Committee also had an additional full-day meeting to deepen its knowledge and understanding of the debate around climate change and its implications for our operations and businesses. The Committee provides input on and reviews drafts of this report, and met with our External Review Committee (see External Review Committee).
The Social Responsibility Committee travels to Shell locations, meeting with local staff and external stakeholders, including communities, non-governmental organisations and governments, to understand first-hand the site’s operational performance. The Committee forms its own view on how our standards are being implemented and where improvements are needed. In 2007, it visited our oil sands operation in Canada and the Sakhalin II project in Russia. Wim Kok also visited Nigeria with the Chairman of the Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc. After each visit, the Committee reports its observations to the Board, including the Executive Director responsible for that project or site.
39
