Apache Corp. – Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2003 – 2004)

Outcome: 37.1%

WHEREAS:
In 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded “there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.” The National Academy of Sciences stated that the “degree of confidence in the IPCC assessment is higher today than it was 10, or even 5 years ago.”
The Environmental Protection Agency’s  “Climate Action Report – 2002,” concluded that climate change poses risks to coastal communities due to sea level rise, water shortages, and increases in the heat index and frequency of heat waves.
100+ countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, spurring greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) controls abroad that could disadvantage U.S. companies against competitors already accustomed to operating in carbon-constrained environments. At least half of U.S. states are addressing global warming, through legislation, lawsuits against the Bush administration or programs initiated by governors.
According to recent polls by Zogby and Gallup, 75% of Americans favor mandatory controls on GHG emissions.
Recent reports by CERES, the Carbon Disclosure Project, Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, and the Investor Responsibility Research Center demonstrate the growing financial risks of climate change for US corporations, and that companies are not adequately disclosing these risks to investors.
The reinsurer Swiss Re is asking companies applying for directors and officers insurance to explain what they are doing to prepare for potential regulation of GHG emissions.
We believe our industry is highly exposed to risk from climate change; according to the Energy Information Administration, over half of all GHG emissions in the United States are from oil and gas combustion.
Industry leaders such as Royal Dutch/Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Statoil, Suncor and Amerada Hess are taking actions to reduce their exposure to climate related risks, including assuming a cost for carbon in their strategic planning, reporting on and reducing their GHG emissions, engaging in emissions trading, and investing in renewable energy. BP reports that its emissions reduction activities have generated savings with an NPV of $650 million.
According to Oil and Gas Investor, the industry’s environmental record is hurting its ability to attract strong employees. Companies like BP claim that their proactive stance on climate change helps to recruit and retain quality employees.
Apache has committed to reporting publicly its GHG emissions for its Canadian and Australian operations but produces no comparable report on its U.S. operations.
RESOLVED: The shareholders request that a committee of independent directors of the Board assess how the company is responding to rising regulatory, competitive, and public pressure to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and report to shareholders (at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information) by September 1, 2004.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT:
We believe management has a fiduciary duty to carefully assess and disclose to shareholders all pertinent information on its response associated with climate change. We believe taking early action to reduce emissions and prepare for standards could provide competitive advantages, and inaction and opposition to emissions control efforts could expose companies to regulatory and litigation risk, and reputation damage.