Biological Diversity

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, refers to the variety of life on Earth. As defined by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, it includes diversity of ecosystems, species and genes, and the ecological processes that support them. Natural diversity in ecosystems provides essential economic benefits and services to human society—such as food, clothing, shelter, fuel and medicines—as well as ecological, recreational, cultural and aesthetic values, and thus plays an important role in sustainable development. Biodiversity is under threat in many areas of the world. Concern about global biodiversity loss has emerged as a prominent and widespread public issue.
We recognize the importance of biodiversity conservation and support it through our values, performance, and communication and engagement.
Values: Protecting the safety and health of people and the environment is a Chevron core value. Therefore, we:
  * Strive to design our facilities and conduct our operations to avoid adverse impacts to human health and to operate in an environmentally sound, reliable and efficient manner.
  * Conduct our operations responsibly in all areas, including environments with sensitive biological characteristics.
Performance: We strive to avoid or minimize significant risks and impacts our projects and operations may pose to sensitive species, habitats and ecosystems. This means that we:
  * Integrate biodiversity into our business decision-making and management through our Operational Excellence (OE) management system.
  * Drive and assess our performance relating to biodiversity through key OE expectations, such as Environmental Stewardship, and processes, including HES Due Diligence for Property Transfers; Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment; and Risk Management.
  * Understand that humans and the natural environment are interdependent and interact with each other in various ways. In managing our impacts we consider those... [continues]

Read full essay