Declines in methane emissions, reportable spills and workplace injuries. They were highlighted by Williams Cos. of Tulsa as the firm announced the release of its 2019 Sustainability Report, providing a comprehensive review of the company’s performance on environmental, social and governance programs and initiatives.
“At Williams we believe that running our business in a sustainable manner and doing what is right for the environment and our communities is critical to maintaining our social license to operate, and our continued focus on sustainability delivers immense value that is well-aligned with the interests of long-term shareholders,” said Alan Armstrong, president and chief executive officer at Williams. “As this report details, we have a positive story to tell. Our natural gas focused strategy has driven significant reductions in U.S. CO2 emissions, lowered consumers’ utility bills and paved the way for investment in renewable energy. Our report provides a clear view into the actions we are taking to balance the dual challenge of meeting increasing demand for energy while reducing emissions and environmental impacts with practical, immediate solutions.”
Highlights of Williams’ 2019 Sustainability Report include the following:
- More than 41% reduction in reported methane emissions from processing plants and compressor stations since 2012
- 39% decrease in reportable spills to soil and water from 2018 levels
- 47% decline in employee recordable injuries since 2017
- $9.7 million invested in 2019 in communities where Williams’ employees live and work
- 33,000 hours of employee volunteerism in 2019
- Formation of D&I Council to inform inclusion, diversity, and talent development strategies
“Sustainability grounded in sensibility is nothing new at Williams,” said Armstrong. “For more than a century we have strived to strengthen our reputation as a responsible and dependable business that delivers on its promises to employees, customers and other key stakeholders. We welcome the increased focus on sustainable business performance as it is congruent with our culture of doing things right, today and in the future.”
Williams’ 2019 Sustainability Report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards – Core option and references the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Oil & Gas – Midstream Standard and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). In addition, Williams’ 2019 Sustainability Report received independent assurance from ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM CVS) related to greenhouse gas emissions and safety data.
An electronic version is available at www.williams.com.