Resolved clauseResolved: Shareholders request the Board of Directors commission an independent third-party
report, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information, evaluating how effectively the
company implements its Human Rights Policy and other company efforts to prevent, mitigate, and
remedy actual and potential human rights impacts of its operations. The third-party should provide
an opportunity to civil society and human rights organizations to provide input, and the report
should be made public on Chevron’s website.
Whereas clauseWhereas: Chevron operates in over 180 countries and is one of the highest greenhouse gas
emitting companies in the world.1 Although Chevron commits to respecting human rights, its
operations have been connected to significant human rights abuses that expose shareholders to
financial, compliance, and reputational risks. An independent 2021 report examining 70 lawsuits
against Chevron found that 65% of the cases involved “documented claims of severe human rights
abuses, including torture, forced labor/slavery, rape, murder, and even genocide.”2 Communities
surrounding Chevron operations in Nigeria,3 Kazakhstan,4 Ecuador5
, and the US6 assert Chevron
has failed to remediate oil spills, violated environmental protection laws, and fueled local conflict.
Chevron’s existing policies, processes, and disclosure fail to address whether and how the
company is effectively addressing material risks associated with human rights abuses,
environmental damages, and poor community relations connected to its business operations.
Chevron scored 33/100 on the 2023 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, notably receiving a
score of 0 for monitoring and corrective actions. The benchmark noted “it is not clear how it
monitors the implementation of its human rights policy commitments across its global
operations.”7
Chevron has been accused of corrupt practices, including intimidating and harassing human rights
defenders through the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).8 A 2020
report reviewing 152 SLAPP cases from the fossil fuel industry found that Chevron was one of the
most prolific users of the tactic.9 Chevron continues to deny responsibility for a $9.5 billion
judgment against the company for decades of contamination in Ecuador.10 Chevron’s subsequent
drawn-out legal and reputational attacks on Ecuadorian plaintiffs’ attorney, Steven Donziger, exposes Chevron to significant reputational risk.11 The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
determined that Dozinger’s resulting detention amounted to arbitrary deprivation of liberty.12
Additionally, Chevron’s emissions contribute to the climate crisis, which disparately impacts
people of color and furthers systemic racism.13 Chevron’s operations, discharges, and leaks
disproportionately burden communities of color with pollution and human health risks.14 Chevron
faces multiple lawsuits, including from Delaware,15 Oakland, CA16, Hoboken, NJ,17 and the
District of Columbia,18 alleging damages from climate impacts that disparately affect marginalized
communities. The quantity of penalties, court filings, and protests Chevron faces from fenceline
communities raises questions about how its policies and systems are effectively implemented to
prevent, mitigate and remedy human rights impacts.