LyondellBasell Industries
What do our scores mean?
The organizational score represents the degree to which the organization influencing climate policy and legislation. Corporations also have relationship scores reflecting their links with influencers like trade associations. Both are combined to place the corporation in a performance band. Full details can be found here.
Engagement Intensity
The engagement intensity (EI) is a metric of the extent to which the company is engaging on climate change policy matters, whether positively or negatively. It is a number from 0 (no engagement at all) to 100 (full engagement on all queries/data points). Clearly energy companies are more affected by climate regulations and will have a higher EI than, for example retailers. So an organization’s score should be looked at in conjunction with this metric to gauge the amount of evidence we are using in each case as a basis for scoring. On our scale, an EI of more than 35 indicates a relatively large amount of climate policy engagement.
Relationship Score, December 2020
A new batch of industry associations has been uploaded onto the InfluenceMap system and the relationship scores recalculated accordingly.
Updated terminology, February 2021
We adjusted the terminology used to describe the queries running down the left-hand side of our scoring matrix and added additional explanatory text to the info-boxes. This has no impact on the scores and methodology. It has been done following user feedback to improve clarity.
- Details of Organization Score
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What do the 0,1,2 and NSs, NAs mean?
Each cell in the organization's matrix presents a chance for us to assess each data source against our column of climate change policy queries. We score from -2 to 2, with negative scores representing evidence of obstructive influence. "NA" means "not applicable" and "NS" means "not scored" - that is we did not find any evidence either way. In both cases, the cell's weighting is re-distributed over others. Red and blue cells represent highly interesting negative or positive influence respectively. Full details can be found here.
- Details of Relationship Score
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What is the Relationship Score
A corporation, as well as its organizational score will have a relationship score. It is computed by aggregating the organizational scores of the Influencers (trade bodies etc.) it has relationships with, weighted by both the strength of these relationships and the relative importance of the Influencers towards climate change policy. Full details can be found here.
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QUERIES
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DATA SOURCES | |||||||
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Main Web Site
The main organizational Web site of the company and its direct links to major affiliates and attached documents. |
Social Media
We search other media and sites funded or controlled by the organization, such as social media (Twitter, Facebook) and direct advertising campaigns of the organization. |
CDP Responses
We assess and score responses to two questions from CDP's climate change information request (12.3 a & 12.3c) related to political influence questions (currently these are not numerically scored by the CDP process). |
Legislative Consultations
Comments from the entity being scored on governmental regulatory consultation processes, including those obtained by InfluenceMap through Freedom of Information requests. |
Media Reports
Here we search in a consistent manner (the organization name and relevant query search terms) a set of web sites of representing reputable news or data aggregations. Supported by targeted searches of proprietary databases. |
CEO Messaging
Here we search in a consistent manner (the CEO/Chairman, organization name and relevant query search terms) a set of web sites of representing reputable news or data aggregations. Supported by targeted searches of proprietary databases. |
Financial Disclosures
We search 10-K and 20-F SEC filings where available, and non US equivalents where not. . |
EU Register
Information provided by to the voluntary EU Transparency Register. |
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Communication of Climate Science
Is the organization transparent and clear about its position on climate change science? |
NS |
1
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NA | NS | NS | NS | NS | NA |
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Alignment with IPCC on Climate Action
Is the organization supporting the science-based response to climate change as set out by the IPCC? (the IPCC) |
NS |
0
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NA |
0
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2
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0
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NS | NA |
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Supporting the Need for Regulations
To what extent does the organization express the need for regulatory intervention to resolve the climate crisis? |
-1
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NS | NA | NS |
1
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0
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-1
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NA |
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Support of UN Climate Process
Is the organization supporting the UN FCCC process on climate change? |
1
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NS | NA | NS | NS | NS | NS | NA |
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Transparency on Legislation
Is the organisation transparent about its positions on climate change legislation/policy and its activities to influence it? |
-2
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NA |
0
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NA | NA | NA | NS | NA |
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Carbon Tax
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: carbon tax. |
NS | NS |
0
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NS | NS | NS | NS | NA |
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Emissions Trading
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: emissions trading. |
0
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-1
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-1
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-2
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NS | NS | NS | NA |
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Energy and Resource Efficiency
Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: energy efficiency policy, standards, and targets |
1
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-1
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0
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NS | NS | NS | NS | NA |
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Renewable Energy
Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: Renewable energy legislation, targets, subsidies, and other policy |
1
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-1
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-1
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NS | NS | NS | NS | NA |
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Energy Transition & Zero Carbon Technologies
Is the organization supporting an IPCC-aligned transition of the economy away from carbon-emitting technologies, including supporting relevant policy and legislative measures to enable this transition? |
0
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-1
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-1
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NS |
0
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0
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NS | NA |
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GHG Emission Regulation
Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: GHG emission standards and targets. Is the organization supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: Standards, targets, and other regulatory measures directly targeting Greenhouse Gas emissions |
0
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-1
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-1
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-2
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1
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NS | NS | NA |
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Disclosure on Relationships
Is the organization transparent about its involvement with industry associations that are influencing climate policy, including the extent to which it is aligned with these groups on climate? |
0
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NS |
1
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NA | NA | NA | NS | NA |
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A Senior Executive of LyondellBasell Industries is Chairman of the Climate Change & Energy committee of Cefic
Richard Roudeix
Open PDF file of Data Source
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A Senior Executive of LyondellBasell Industries is Chairman of the Climate Change & Energy committee of Cefic
Richard Roudeix
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
In the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire 2020 LyondellBasell described alignment on climate policy as mixed with AFPM
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A LyondellBasell executive vice president is on the AFPM's Board of Executives
Torkel Rhenman
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
In the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire 2020 LyondellBasell described alignment on climate policy as mixed with AFPM
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A LyondellBasell executive vice president is on the AFPM's Board of Executives
Torkel Rhenman
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell employees actively participate on many ACC committees including the Energy Committee which drafted the climate change policy. LyondellBasell serves on the boards of ACC and ACC Plastics Division.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBassell is a member of the ACC.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell employees actively participate on many ACC committees including the Energy Committee which drafted the climate change policy. LyondellBasell serves on the boards of ACC and ACC Plastics Division.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBassell is a member of the ACC.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell is a member of NAM.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell is a member of NAM.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell is an indirect member of MEDEF as a Senior Executive is on the board of SCOB which is a member of France Chimie
Philippe RIVOALEN
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell Industries has an indirect membership of MEDEF through the association UFIP.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell is an indirect member of MEDEF as a Senior Executive is on the board of SCOB which is a member of France Chimie
Philippe RIVOALEN
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
LyondellBasell Industries has an indirect membership of MEDEF through the association UFIP.
not specified
How to Read our Relationship Score Map
In this section, we depict graphically the relationships the corporation has with trade associations, federations, advocacy groups and other third parties who may be acting on their behalf to influence climate change policy. Each of the columns above represents one relationship the corporation appears to have with such a third party. In these columns, the top, dark section represents the strength of the relationship the corporation has with the influencer. For example if a corporation's senior executive also held a key role in the trade association, we would deem this to be a strong relationship and it would be on the far left of the chart above, with the weaker ones to the right. Click on these grey shaded upper sections for details of these relationships. The middle section contains a link to the organization score details of the influencer concerned, so you can see the details of its climate change policy influence. Click on the middle sections for for details of the trade associations. The lower section contains the organization score of that influencer, the lower the more negatively it is influencing climate policy.
Climate Lobbying Overview: LyondellBasell appears mostly to be positioned negatively on climate change policy, although with some indications of improvement in 2020. The company retains memberships to several industry associations in Europe and the US lobbying in opposition to climate regulations.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: In 2020 the CEO of LyondellBasell communicated support for action on climate change on the condition that this “must make economic sense”, and appeared to question whether the Paris climate change targets are “realistic from an industry perspective”. In 2018, in consultation with the EU, the company appeared to question the technological feasibility and economic viability of GHG emissions reductions to net-zero. However, in 2021, in an article in Euractiv, a senior executive, Ronald van Klaveren, stated support for climate neutrality in the EU by 2050 and advocated for “the right framework and conditions” to achieve this goal. In a ‘Principles for public policy for sustainability’ flyer from 2020, LyondellBasell stated support for a market-based response to climate change over government regulation to preserve the competitiveness of energy-intensive industry.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In 2018, LyondellBasell appeared to not support the EU ETS in consultation with EU policymakers suggesting that it is an “inappropriate administrative burden”, stressing concerns regarding costs, and arguing strongly in favour of the chemicals sector remaining on the 'carbon leakage list' to continue receiving free emission allowances. In its 2019 Form 10-K, the company highlighted the financial cost and potential impediment on growth resulting from both US GHG emissions regulations, as well as upcoming EU ETS reforms. In 2020, in a disclosure on public policy, LyondellBasell stated support both for energy efficiency policy efforts and renewable energy incentives. However, in response to the 2020 CDP climate change questionnaire, LyondellBasell disclosed support for energy efficiency targets on the condition that they don’t overlap with other regulations or impose caps on growth or production. In the same questionnaire, LyondellBasell communicated concerns regarding the cost impact of certain forms of renewable legislation, stating that such policy should be time-limited and focus on innovations, while also communicating a preference for a “technology-neutral approach.”
Positioning on Energy Transition: In response to CDP’s 2018 Climate Change Questionnaire, LyondellBasell, while communicating on the need for 'sensible' state-level rather than 'overreaching' federal methane regulations in the US, the company also appears to have communicated support for the continual development of oil and gas reserves. However, LyondellBasell's 2020 principles for public policy disclosure states support for policy to “partially offset the need for fossil fuels”, also pointing to the need for a "level playing field" for low-carbon liquid fuels.
Industry Association Governance: LyondellBasell disclosed a list of its US industry associations on its website in 2019. The company is a member of organisations that are lobbying negatively on climate change regulation, such as the National Association of Manufacturers and senior executives from the company hold positions on the boards of groups such as the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). In its 2020 CDP response, LyondellBasell disclosed memberships of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), European Chemistry Industry Council (CEFIC) and AFPM, disclosing alignment with ACC and CEFIC, but 'mixed' alignment with AFPM. The company has not published a dedicated review of potential misalignments with its industry associations on climate policy.