Woodside
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 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. . |
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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 |
1
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NS |
1
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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) |
2
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0
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NA |
0
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0
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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 | NS |
-1
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0
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0
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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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1
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NS |
1
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NS |
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? |
0
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NA |
-1
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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. |
NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
-2
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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 |
-1
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0
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NS |
-1
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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 |
0
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NS | NS |
1
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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 | NS |
-1
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NS |
-1
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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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0
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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 |
1
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-2
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0
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-1
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-2
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-2
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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? |
1
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NS |
0
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NA | NA | NA | NS |
Open PDF file of Data Source
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside is a member of the Global Engagement Task Force Committee. (Membership in the task force committee up to date 05/01/2021)
Peter Coleman, Managing Director and CEO
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside's CEO is a board member of BCA.
Peter Coleman, Managing Director and CEO
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside is a member of BCA
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside is a member of the Global Engagement Task Force Committee. (Membership in the task force committee up to date 05/01/2021)
Peter Coleman, Managing Director and CEO
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside's CEO is a board member of BCA.
Peter Coleman, Managing Director and CEO
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside is a member of BCA
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Woodside is on the board of APPEA
Meg O'Neill
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside executive is vice-chair of APPEA's board.
Michael Abbot, Senior Vice-President, Corporate and Legal
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside executive is on the board of APPEA
Michael Abbott
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Woodside is on the board of APPEA
Meg O'Neill
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside executive is vice-chair of APPEA's board.
Michael Abbot, Senior Vice-President, Corporate and Legal
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside executive is on the board of APPEA
Michael Abbott
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside Energy is one of 82 members of IOGP.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside is a direct member of IOGP
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside Energy is one of 82 members of IOGP.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Woodside is a direct member of IOGP
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: Woodside's top-line messaging suggests support for action on climate change, but does not appear to support many specific examples of climate change regulation in Australia, and also appears supportive of a major role for gas in the energy mix in the long-term.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: As of August 2021, Woodside Energy appears to support the Paris Agreement, in addition to stating support for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. However, Woodside’s support for the need for government policy to reach this target appears to have significant caveats. For example, in a submission to the Climate Change Authority in October 2019, Woodside appeared to only support policy that did not impact on Australia’s international competitiveness and in February 2020, Woodside appeared to support government regulation but qualifying this support for regulations by stating they should not affect national or regional competitiveness and seemingly preferring a market-based mechanism.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Woodside appears to have either not supported several strands of Australian climate policy or supported with significant exceptions. In May 2018, Woodside appears to have advocated for increased support for EITE industries under the Safeguard Mechanism by using less ambitious baselines for emissions. While in March 2019, Woodside’s CEO appeared to strongly oppose proposals by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority that would require large facilities to offset GHG emissions. In August 2020, Woodside appeared to oppose the inclusion of Scope 3 emissions in consideration during regulatory assessments under Australia’s federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Regarding renewable energy legislation, Woodside appears to have mixed engagement on the Renewable Energy Target (RET), in October 2019, Woodside appeared to support allowing the RET to continue until 2030 as legislated. However, it is unclear whether Woodside supports alternative policies such as subsidies to ensure continued support for renewables, and it also appears that Woodside supports compensation or exemption for emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries affected by the RET. On other forms of policy, Woodside has stated support for emissions trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, this appears to include support for trading of international credits without clear limits on their use, which may weaken overall climate ambition.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Woodside’s public statements suggest support for a major role for fossil gas in the future energy mix. Woodside has consistently supported a major role for fossil gas in the energy mix in the long-term, describing it in October 2020 as a “natural partner to renewables”. While Woodside also appears to support the role of renewables in the future energy mix, it has also stressed intermittency risks in a submission to the Western Australian Government in November 2019. In April 2021, Woodside submitted to the inquiry into the prudential regulation of investments in Australia’s export industries, in which it opposed any attempt to limit investments in the resource sector, including LNG, adding that LNG and gas has a significant role to play in the future. In February 2020, Woodside then CEO Peter Coleman stated that “natural gas is essential to the global energy transition in the decades ahead”. While in June 2021, new Woodside CEO, Meg O’Neill stressed the need to increase Asia’s access to gas-fired power.
Industry Association Governance: Woodside has disclosed a list of its direct memberships to industry associations in a dedicated report in October 2020. However, Woodside maintains links to several other industry associations that appear to be lobbying negatively on climate policy. Senior Woodside executives are present on the boards of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, the Business Council of Australia, and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, three organizations which have traditionally lobbied negatively on progressive climate policy in Australia.
A detailed assessment of the company's industry association review can be found on our CA100+ webpage here.