Behind the shine : the other Shell Report 2003

Based on evidence from people around the world who live in the shadows of Shell’s various operations, this report assesses the company’s performance. It finds that Shells performs poorly as a leading corporate social responsibility advocate. In addition, the report highlights that Shell failed to address the concerns of Shell fenceline communities. The report also points to a link between Shell’s exaggerated oil reserves fiasco and its exaggerated claims about its social and environmental performance.

Finally, the Report highlights the need for urgent reform of UK company law and Shells attitude to fenceline communities. Recommendations include:

• the UK government should place a duty of care on directors to take reasonable steps to reduce any significant social or environmental impacts
• all UK companies should report on the significant negative social or environmental impact of their operations, polices, products, and procurement policies with independent verification
• foreign direct liability for companies should be put in place, so that affected communities can seek redress in the UK for human rights, social and environmental abuses as a direct result of their operations or of their oversees subsidiaries
• Shell should stop lobbying against international corporate accountability initiatives and rather support them
• Shell should eliminate hazardous and life threatening facility accidents by replacing antiquated and dilapidated pipelines and relocating them to non-residential areas
• Shell should significantly reduce pollution wherever it operates
• Shell should take full responsibility for past environmental damage that continues to impact the health and environment of people.