Organization: Devon Energy Corporation

Year: 2015

Description:

Whereas: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's leading scientific authority on climate change, confirmed in 2013 that warming of the climate is unequivocal and human influence is the dominant cause. Recent extreme weather events have caused significant loss of life and billions of dollars of damage. Many investors are deeply concerned about existing and future effects of climate change on society and business.

The IPCC estimates that a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions globally is needed by 2050 (from 1990 levels) to stabilize global temperatures, requiring a US. target reduction of 80%. Urgent action is needed to achieve the required emissions reductions. We believe the US. Congress, Administration as well as States and cities, must enact and enforce strong legislation and regulations to mitigate and adapt to climate change, reduce our use of fossil fuels and move us to a renewable energy future.

Accordingly, we believe companies in the energy sector should review and update their public policy positions related to climate change.
The public perception is that business often opposes laws and regulations addressing climate change or renewable energy. For example, in 2009, when Congress debated comprehensive climate change legislation, oil, gas and electric utilities spent more than $300 million on lobbying. (Opensecretsorg)

Consequently, company political spending and lobbying on climate or energy policy, including through third parties, are increasingly scrutinized. For example, investors question company public policy advocacy through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which often obstructs progress on climate-related legislation and in particular has attacked the EPA for its climate initiatives.

Over 1,000 forward looking businesses such as General Motors, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle, Microsoft, Nike and Unilever, signed the Climate Declaration that supports the need for legislation and states, “Tackling Climate Change is one of America’s greatest economic opportunities of the 21St Century."

Resolved: Shareholders request that the Board commission a comprehensive review of Devon's positions, oversight and processes related to public policy advocacy on energy policy and climate change. This would include an analysis of political advocacy and lobbying activities, including indirect support through trade associations, think tanks and other nonprofit organizations. Shareholders also request that company prepare (at reasonable cost and omitting confidential information) and make available by September 2015 a report describing the completed review.