Failing the challenge

The report 'Failing the Challenge' by Friends of the Earth International criticizes Shell for prioritizing short-term profits over human rights and environmental protection. It documents a pattern of pollution, health crises, and human rights abuses across several countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, the US, and the Philippines. The authors argue that Shell engages in 'greenwashing' by using PR to mask its continued expansion of fossil fuel production and its failure to hold itself accountable for local damages. The report calls for changes to UK company law to ensure corporations are legally responsible for their global impacts.

• Shell is accused of 'greenwashing' by promoting a sustainable image while continuing to expand fossil fuel exploration and production. The report notes that Shell spends approximately US$8 billion annually on fossil-fuel exploration and production, while allocating only about US$200 million per year to renewables, which is roughly 1.7 per cent of its annual capital expenditure.
• In the Niger River Delta, Nigeria, Shell's operations have been linked to extensive environmental degradation and human rights conflicts. Between 1976 and 1991, the company was responsible for 2,976 oil spills, averaging four per week. The report also highlights the execution of Ogoni leader Ken Saro-Wiwa, alleging it occurred with Shell's knowledge and support.
• In Durban, South Africa, the SAPREF refinery (jointly owned by Shell and BP) is associated with severe health issues in poor black, Indian, and mixed-race communities. Respiratory illnesses in school children are four times higher than elsewhere, and leukaemia rates are reportedly 24 times the national average. The refinery admitted in February 2000 to under-reporting sulphur dioxide emissions by as much as 25 per cent over five years.
• In Port Arthur, Texas, residents of 'gasoline alley' report high rates of asthma, heart conditions, and respiratory problems. A health survey indicated that 80 per cent of people in refinery neighbourhoods had these conditions, compared to 30 per cent in non-refinery areas. In 2002, Shell reported 56 major accidents, process upsets, and fires or explosions at the site.
• In Norco, Louisiana, the 'Diamond' community has suffered from chronic pollution and lethal accidents, including a 1973 event that killed two people in their homes. The area is described as 'Cancer Alley,' where residents report high incidences of sarcoidosis, lupus, and collapsed lungs among children.
• In Pandacan, Manila, Shell and other companies operate oil and gas depots in a densely populated suburb of 84,000 people. Local campaigners have found benzene levels higher than US health standards, and the report notes a 1999 pipeline leak that burned 325 homes and killed one person in Muntinlupa.
• In Magdalena, Argentina, Shell is accused of evading responsibility for a January 1999 oil spill on the Rio de la Plata that devastated a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The report claims Shell used bulldozers for cleanup, which damaged soil and vegetation, leading to a court ruling that the cleanup was inadequate.
• In China, Shell's involvement in the Tarim Basin Gas Fields and a proposed 2,600-mile pipeline is criticized for ignoring the rights of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang province. Activists argue the project is part of a strategy to consolidate government control and displace native populations.

APA

Rimmer, L., Bennett, C., Larson, D., Robinson, J., Bradbury, A., & Denney, S. (2003). Failing the challenge. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shell_failing_the_challenge.pdf

Chicago

Rimmer, Lisa, Craig Bennett, Denny Larson, Judith Robinson, Adam Bradbury, and Sarah Denney. Failing the challenge. Friends of the Earth International, 2003. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shell_failing_the_challenge.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rimmer |first1=Lisa |last2=Bennett |first2=Craig |last3=Larson |first3=Denny |last4=Robinson |first4=Judith |last5=Bradbury |first5=Adam |last6=Denney |first6=Sarah |title=Failing the challenge |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=April 2003 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shell_failing_the_challenge.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rimmer2003failing, author = {Rimmer, Lisa and Bennett, Craig and Larson, Denny and Robinson, Judith and Bradbury, Adam and Denney, Sarah}, title = {{Failing the challenge}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2003}, month = apr, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shell_failing_the_challenge.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }