Santos
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.
Update August 2021: If limited evidence had been collected either on a company's direct policy engagement (Organization Score) or industry association links (Relationship Score) this is signified with an ‘n/a’ (not available). If limited evidence has been collected in both areas, the Total Score is also given as n/a. Full details and links back to any primary evidence that has been collected can still be located on the company’s profile.
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 25 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. . |
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Communication of Climate Science
Is the organization transparent and clear about its position on climate change science? |
1
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NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
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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) |
1
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-1
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NA |
1
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1
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0
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NS |
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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 |
-1
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1
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NS | NS |
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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 | NS |
1
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1
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1
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NS |
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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? |
-1
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NA |
-2
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NA | NA | NA | NS |
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Carbon Tax
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: carbon tax. |
0
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NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
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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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NS |
0
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NS | NS | NS | NS |
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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 |
NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
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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 |
NS | NS |
1
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NS |
-1
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NS | NS |
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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? |
-1
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-1
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NS |
-1
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-1
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-1
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NS |
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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 |
NS | NS | NS |
0
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NS |
0
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NS |
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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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NA |
-2
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NA | NA | NA | NS |
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Santos is Chairman of APPEA's board
Kevin Gallagher
Open PDF file of Data Source
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Executive of Santos is on the board of APPEA
Brett Woods
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Santos is Chairman of APPEA's board
Kevin Gallagher
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Executive of Santos is on the board of APPEA
Brett Woods
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is one of over 100 direct members of BCA. In April 2019, the Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher was named as a member of BCA's Energy and Climate Change Committee, but this information is no longer available on BCA's website.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Santos is member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee
Kevin Gallagher
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is one of over 100 direct members of BCA. In April 2019, the Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher was named as a member of BCA's Energy and Climate Change Committee, but this information is no longer available on BCA's website.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Santos is member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee
Kevin Gallagher
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is a corporate member of SACOME. Matt Sherwell, Manager of Policy and External Affairs at Santos, sits on SACOME's Council.
Matt Sherwell, Manager of Policy and External Affairs
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is a corporate member of SACOME. Matt Sherwell, Manager of Policy and External Affairs at Santos, sits on SACOME's Council.
Matt Sherwell, Manager of Policy and External Affairs
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is a member of QRC
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is a member of the trade association
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is a member of QRC
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Santos is a member of the trade association
Open PDF file of Data Source
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: Santos has expressed top-line support for action on climate change in its corporate messaging, although the company is actively supporting the continued role of fossil fuels, particularly fossil gas, in the energy mix. There is limited evidence of engagement by Santos on specific climate-related regulation, although the company retains memberships to a number of industry associations which engage negatively on climate policy in Australia.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: In Santos’ 2021 Climate Change Report, the company recognized the science of climate change and the need to limit global warming to 2°C. In December 2020, Santos also appeared to support the Paris Agreement and the need for a national policy approach to respond to climate change. In a September 2021 speech, CEO Kevin Gallagher stated that as COP 26 gets underway, 'operationalising Article 6 of the Paris Agreement should be the number one priority.'
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Santos has limited engagement with specific climate change policies. In November 2019, Santos reportedly supported the use of funds under Australia’s federal Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), originally intended for renewable energy projects, to support a CCS project for an existing gas facility. In April 2019, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher stressed the need for consultation with industry on the design of the Safeguard Mechanism, but did not take a clear position on the policy.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Santos clearly supports the role of oil and fossil gas in the energy mix, while its position on coal appears mixed. In a September 2020 press release, CEO Kevin Gallagher supported a continued role for coal, oil and gas in the energy mix for “at least the next two decades” alongside technologies such as CCS. However, Gallagher has also supported a shift from coal to fossil gas and clean fuels such as hydrogen in 2020. In Santos’ 2020 corporate reporting, the company has consistently supported the role of fossil gas in the energy mix on the basis that it is “low carbon”, without placing clear conditions on the deployment of CCS or methane abatement measures. Santos also states in its 2020 Review of Industry Associations that it derives “significant benefits” from public policy advocacy undertaken by APPEA in support of an “internationally competitive investment environment for the Australian oil and gas sector”, suggesting support for further investment in fossil fuel infrastructure. In July 2021, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher opposed the decision by the NSW government to reduce the area where coal gas exploration can proceed, stating that the development of gas resources was needed instead of relying on imports and in May 2021 he appeared to state support for the National Gas Infrastructure Plan (Gas-fired recovery) as well as new gas developments.
Industry Association Governance: In December 2020, Santos published a review of its alignment on climate change with eight key industry associations. The review did not identify any cases of misalignment, nor did it disclose a framework for dealing with potential cases of misalignment. However, Santos retains membership to a number of industry associations that lobby against ambitious climate policy including the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA), the [133 Business Council of Australia and Queensland Resources Council. Additionally, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher is the current chairman of the board at APPEA.
*A detailed assessment of the company's industry association review can be found on our CA100+ webpage here.