Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 SDGs aim to tackle some of the world’s most pressing economic, environmental and social issues.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) respond to the world’s economic, social and environmental challenges. They provide a globally applicable framework, through which Woodside can identify and articulate its priorities for sustainability.
Primary goals
Affordable and clean energy
Our Aspiration
| Our deliverables | Our progress | |
|---|---|---|
| Continue to provide cost competitive gas through our existing facilities and growth projects.1 | At the end of 2022, the Scarborough project was 23% complete, targeting first LNG cargo in 2026. |
| The Bass Strait continued to supply natural gas to the eastern Australian domestic gas market, redirecting offshore fuel gas pipeline to supply additional gas into the market. The asset currently supplies approximately 40% of Australian east coast domestic gas demand, with Woodside providing 20% of market share.2,3,4 | |
| In 2022, Woodside continued to deliver a range of hydrocarbons in line with our production plan.5 | |
| Develop new markets for LNG as a lower emissions fuel in trucking and shipping. | Trucked LNG is being loaded at Pluto in Karratha for delivery to customers in regional Western Australia, for use in power generation at remote mine sites. |
| Diversify our business into supplying new energy products and lower carbon services, particularly proposed hydrogen projects. | Woodside made progress on a number of hydrogen related opportunities, as well as announced investments in solar technology and carbon to products technologies. Please see page 31 in the Climate section of this report for more information. |
| Develop a business to originate and acquire quality carbon offsets. | We continue to build our portfolio by originating carbon credit units and purchasing from carbon markets. |
1 Please note, gas was previously referred to as LNG.
2 Australian Energy Market Operator 2023 forecast market share based on volume.
3 East coast Australian includes New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Australia Capital Territory and Tasmania.
4 This activity was acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
5 For further information about our 2022 production, please see our Annual Report 2022.
Related Targets
Decent work and economic growth
Our Aspiration
Continue to support economic growth as a supportive and responsible employer.
| Our deliverables | Our progress |
|---|---|
| Continue to provide and support apprenticeships, traineeships and First Nations participation in education pathway programs.1 | We had over 100 trainees and apprentices across Karratha Gas Plant and Perth, of whom 42 identify as First Nations Australians. In addition 17 people hold a Woodside Scholarship, five of whom identify as First Nations Australians. |
| Conduct human rights due diligence activities, including country risk assessments and human rights assessments. | Audits were completed at subcontractor fabrication yards in Batam (Indonesia) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates) by an external third party. We also conducted our annual human rights risk assessment. For more information on human rights please refer to pages 80-81 of this report. |
| Develop local capabilities, support training initiatives and offer employment opportunities with a focus on oil and gas disciplines in Senegal. | Funding provided for the purchase of a drilling simulator to the National Oil and Gas Institute (Institut National du Pétrole et du Gaz) in Senegal. Additionally, Woodside partnered with local and international consultants who delivered two workshops to strengthen local capacity in health, safety and environment governance across key regulatory agencies. Woodside has established local content commitments with our key contractors to ensure opportunities are maximised for Senegalese people and suppliers. We remain committed to achieving beneficial local content outcomes in Senegal. |
| Support training initiatives to help develop local capability for residents in Trinidad and Tobago.2 | We collaborated with local employment and labour groups and provided skill training opportunities to residents in South East Trinidad communities. This enables participants to obtain skill sets and certificates which increase their work opportunities.3 |
| Continue to ensure controls and monitoring are in place to achieve equitable pay for all employees. | Controls have been embedded in internal processes for external recruiting, internal resourcing and promotions focused on parity and addressing potential bias in remuneration. The merger with BHP Petroleum included a review of employee compensation, focused on competitiveness for employees in the new company. |
| Provide business capacity and capability development opportunities for local and First Nations business in communities neighbouring our Australian operations.1 | Support provided by Tender Relief to assist First Nations and local businesses when bidding for work on Pluto Train 2.4 |
Related Targets
Climate action
Our Aspiration
Set short- and medium-term climate change targets, underpinned by action to minimise climate change and its impacts.
| Our deliverables | Our progress |
|---|---|
| Reduce net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions to 15% below gross annual average by 2025.1 | Woodside’s net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions totalled 4,615 kt CO2-e, 11% below the starting base 2016-2020 gross annual average and on course to achieve Woodside’s 2025 target of a 15% reduction.3 |
| Reduce net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions to 30% below gross annual average by 2030.2 | During 2022, Woodside developed asset decarbonisation plans for each operated asset and project in the heritage Woodside portfolio to identify opportunities to be pursued, including further technology to be developed where needed. A range of initiatives for reducing emissions in operations are outlined in the Climate Report 2022, these include several initiatives for Karratha Gas Plant, Macedon, Pluto LNG, North Rankin Complex and our floating production storage and offloading facilities. For more information please refer to the Climate Report 2022 and also page 29 of this report. |
| Support international efforts including the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, the Methane Guiding Principles and the International Energy Trading Association’s Markets for Natural Climate Solutions initiative. | In September 2022, Woodside became the first Australasian company to join the Oil and Gas Climate Initiatives Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative. Please also refer to the Climate Report 2022 for more information. Woodside participated in the Ipieca Scope 3 task force in 2022.4 |
Related Targets
Secondary goals
Quality education
Our Aspiration
Support quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
| Our deliverables | Our progress | |
|---|---|---|
Work collaboratively through theWoodside Development Fund to reduce developmental vulnerability and improve early childhood outcomes in communities where we are active. | Board approval was secured to extend Woodside’s investment in Pilbara Education Initiatives to include early years and primary school development programs. |
| We partnered with the Ministry of Education in Mexico to provide funding for the Teach for Mexico program which delivers support and training to teachers and students in public schools in the south of Tamaulipas (Mexico). From 2019-2022, the program has been delivered in 50 schools and supported more than 20,000 members of the educational community.2 | |
Support learning initiatives through partnerships to improve education outcomes in communities.1 | We supported the Nicholls University CROWN and the Legacy Leaders Initiative in the United States to empower underprivileged students to reach their full academic potential through mentorship, service and support networks.2 |
| In association with the ARROW Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Woodside aims to improve reading and writing performance in primary schools in its host communities in North East Trinidad. In 2022, a homework centre was opened to provide additional support to the applicable 14 schools. 2 | |
| Support the Karratha and Roebourne Education Initiatives through the North West Shelf Project Joint Venture to provide high quality educational opportunities for students and professional development opportunities for their teachers. | Delivery of the Karratha and Roebourne Education Initiatives continued in 2022, with a focus on pathways to employment, academic excellence, teacher professional development, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, leadership and wellbeing. |
| Continue to partner with Earth Science Western Australia to deliver the STEM in Schools program to primary and high school students in Western Australia. | We continue to partner with Australian Earth Sciences Education to deliver the STEM in Schools program.3 Since its inception in 2016 the program has reached over 20,000 students. We are currently working with the Energy Club Western Australia for the Next Generation Schools STEM program. |
| Support science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiatives through partnerships with Scitech, Monash University and the University of Western Australia (UWA). | Our partnerships with Scitech for the STEM After Schools Program and with the Western Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Implementation of the Digital Technologies Curriculum Initiative continued during 2022. |
1 This deliverable has been added in 2022 to incorporate activities acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
2 This activity was acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
Related Targets
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Our Aspiration
Continue to improve productivity and energy efficiency by embracing technology and innovation.
| Our deliverables | Our progress |
|---|---|
| Leverage Woodside’s FutureLab program hubs at Australian universities to work with researchers, entrepreneurs, subject matter experts and parallel leading industries to solve industry challenges and create shared opportunities. | Through existing university partnerships in Australia, via FutureLab, we are in the process of developing parts from additive manufacturing, reducing the number of components needed to be kept in storage. |
| Partner with organisations to support productive climate-related dialogue and initiatives.1 | Our multi-year partnership agreement with Greentown Labs (United States), brings together start ups, corporates, investors, policymakers and others to focus on climate change solutions, in addition to providing Woodside the opportunity to act as a mentor in the start up space.2 |
| Invest A$40 million in facilities and research to progress Australia’s transition to a lower carbon economy through the Woodside Monash Energy Partnership. | Research is ongoing across a number of different projects, including ultra low cost photovoltaics, CO2 capture from air and bacterial conversion of waste gases. |
| Improve our operations and processes through adoption of more efficient technologies in industrial processes to meet our energy efficiency target and reduce emissions. | Please refer to the Climate Report 2022 for details of 2022 abatement activities. |
1 This deliverable has been added in 2022 to incorporate activities acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
2 This activity was acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
Related Targets
Sustainable cities and communities
Our Aspiration
We will support social outcomes through protection, recognition and respect for Indigenous culture and heritage.
| Our deliverables | Our progress |
|---|---|
| Support cultural heritage management initiatives proposed by Traditional Owners and Custodians through engagement and consultation, including programs to facilitate the transfer of cultural knowledge and values. |
In Western Australia, Woodside continues to support the World Heritage Listing of the Murujuga cultural landscape, in addition to completing ethnographic surveys and supporting the Desert to Sea project in 2022.
Additionally, we continue to partner with the Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation to support delivery of the Merintj Program. The Program helps facilitate the transfer of cultural knowledge from Elders to young people through on-country activities such as the wild-harvest of native bushfoods. For more information on First Nations cultural heritage and engagement please refer to the pages 53-58 of this report. |
| Support local wellbeing initiatives in the communities where we are active.1 | Over the past two years we have partnered with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence to deliver the First Time Last Time program in Trinidad and Tobago.2 |
| Fund First Nations’ ranger programs that protect cultural and natural heritage and regenerate Country.3 | In Western Australia, our multi-year sponsorship agreement with the Murujuga Rangers is ongoing. |
| Partner with organisations in support of environmental and economic wellbeing initiatives.1 | We partnered with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, to focus on enhancing the environmental and economic health for Gulf-focused ecosystem science and coastal management. The partnership also includes initiatives to assist Native American communities.2 |
| Support credible and scientific research to further understand our potential environmental impacts on First Nations’ cultural heritage.4 | We provided funding to the Burrup Air Monitoring Program in support of the Western Australian Government’s Murujuga Rock Art Strategy and commissioned an underwater heritage expert to assess the potential submerged heritage and review the Cultural Heritage Management Plan for a subsea project at Traditional Custodian request. |
1 This deliverable has been added in 2022 to incorporate activities acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
2 This activity was acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
3 Previously, the First Nations ranger program was referred to as a Indigenous ranger program.
Related Targets
Life below water
Our Aspiration
| Our deliverables | Our progress |
|---|---|
| Maintain high levels of oil spill preparedness and response capability through our testing and simulation program. | Crisis Incident Coordination Centre response capability was maintained and enhanced with the addition of assets acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business, in line with regulatory requirements. Drills and exercises were completed to test our response arrangements and carried out in accordance with the annual testing of arrangements schedule. |
| Maintain high levels of oil spill preparedness and response capability through our testing and simulation program. | Oil spill response exercises and workshops were ongoing in 2022. During December, Senegal’s Higher Authority for the Coordination of Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Protection of the Marine Environment undertook a national oil spill response exercise in which Woodside participated. |
| Continue to collect and share scientific information on coastal and offshore biodiversity with key research organisations to support effective marine planning and management. | Woodside partnered with the Australian Institute of Marine Science to understand diving behaviour of pygmy blue whales to learn more about their foraging behaviour.
Research outcomes from scientific partnerships have been published in 15 articles in international peer reviewed scientific journals. |
| Supports initiatives which aid conservation efforts.1 | As a founding sponsor of the Turtle Village Trust, we have continued to support turtle conservation in Trinidad and Tobago for 16 years, which has helped turn the nation into a leading nesting ground for leatherback turtles globally.2 |
1 This deliverable has been added in 2022 to incorporate activities acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
2 This activity was acquired through the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
Related Targets
Life on land
Our Aspiration
Improve air quality and degraded habitats through restoration and sustainable use of land.
| Our deliverables | Our progress |
|---|---|
| Undertake quality carbon offset projects that deliver co-benefits, including land restoration and biodiversity outcomes. | Woodside has planted approximately 5,200 hectares of diverse mixed native species on properties in rural Western Australia. These projects deliver First Nations employment opportunities and local content outcomes. |
Related Targets
Underpinning goal
Partnerships for the goals
Our Aspiration
This goal underpins our UNSDG strategy and informs our approach to our primary and secondary goals. Our strategy is supported by working with our key stakeholder groups to enhance our contribution across our primary and secondary UNSDGs. This underpinning goal reinforces the importance and collaboration with our stakeholders.