Suncor Energy
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? |
1
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2
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NA | NS | NS |
2
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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) |
0
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0
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NA | NS | NS |
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? |
0
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NS | NA |
2
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0
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0
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NS | 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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1
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NA | NS | NS |
1
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0
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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? |
0
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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. |
0
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0
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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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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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0
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NS |
-1
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1
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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 |
0
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1
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2
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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 |
0
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0
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0
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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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0
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0
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NS |
-1
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-1
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-1
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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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0
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-2
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1
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-1
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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? |
-1
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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 Suncor Energy executive is on the AFPM's Board of Directors. (Up to date as of Feb 2021).
Marc Mageau
Open PDF file of Data Source
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Suncor Energy is a regular member of AFPM
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
A Suncor Energy executive is on the AFPM's Board of Directors. (Up to date as of Feb 2021).
Marc Mageau
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Suncor Energy is a regular member of AFPM
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Suncor is on the board of MAC (Up to date as of Feb 2021).
Tina Markovic
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior executive of Suncor is on the board of MAC
Anne Marie Toutant
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Suncor is on the board of MAC (Up to date as of Feb 2021).
Tina Markovic
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior executive of Suncor is on the board of MAC
Anne Marie Toutant
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Suncor Executive is on the Board of Governors of CAPP, but Suncor discloses that is not aligned with CAPP environmental or climate issues in its 2020 CDP response (Up to date as of Feb 2021).
Mark Little
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Suncor Executive is is on Board of Governers of CAPP
Eric Axford
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Suncor Executive is on the Board of Governors of CAPP, but Suncor discloses that is not aligned with CAPP environmental or climate issues in its 2020 CDP response (Up to date as of Feb 2021).
Mark Little
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Suncor Executive is is on Board of Governers of CAPP
Eric Axford
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: Suncor appears to have mixed engagement with climate change policy and regulation. Although it accepts the science of climate change and supports the temperature goals of the IPCC, its messaging on the future energy mix appears to be less positive.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Suncor has a clear position on the science of climate change and in its 2020 sustainability report, states support for the aim of the Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Also in its 2020 sustainability report, Suncor states support for environmental policies and regulations that address climate change, such as a carbon price that encourages ‘low-carbon innovation’.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Suncor appears to support the introduction of a carbon intensity target for fossil fuels. In its 2020 CDP response, Suncor appears to support a carbon pricing mechanism which uses carbon intensity standards for different fuel types rather than a carbon tax. This type of pricing mechanism would then tax the least efficient producers rather than tax all oil and gas production. Within the same response, Suncor also states ‘support with exceptions’ for British Columbia’s Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirement Regulation, although it is unclear from Suncors response what these exceptions are.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Suncor appear to seek the continued expansion for the role of oil and gas in the energy-mix. Although in 2020 Suncor stated support for the transition to a low emissions future, other statements on the future energy-mix do not appear to support this view. In a 2019 speech, current CEO Mark Little appeared to support the continued role of oil in the energy-mix for the next 50 years. In its 2020 sustainability report, Suncor stresses the importance of meeting the energy needs in developing countries and growing global populations. Little echoed this view, stating the importance of relieving energy poverty in the developing world and appears to suggest that oil sands would qualify as a fuel source in a low emissions future, stating: ‘I look at it and think, this could be one of the lowest emission sources of oil globally going forward and that’s the challenge that we’ve put to ourselves.” ... So it’s kind of like, ‘ok, is it zero?’ No it’s not zero, we need to deal with that and maybe we need to offset some of it,”
Industry Association Governance:Suncor discloses a list of Canadian industry associations it holds memberships with in the appendix of its 2020 sustainability report, however no details are given on the industry associations positions on climate change policy, if Suncor is aligned with the associations, or how Suncor influences these associations. Nevertheless, Suncor holds memberships with numerous associations that traditionally lobby negatively on climate change, such as American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). However, in its 2020 CDP response, Suncor disclosed that it is not aligned with the climate change stance held by CAPP, despite CEO Mark Little sitting on the CAPP board of governors.