On May 20 2025, Rosemary Croft - a retired doctor, grandmother, and climate activist - stood up at Shell’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) to ask a direct question: How does Shell’s plan to grow its liquified natural gas business fit with its climate commitments?
Rosemary wasn’t alone.
She was there on behalf of ShareAction and 125 ordinary people who had supported a shareholder resolution co-filed by institutional investors, asking Shell for clarity on its climate promises. Thousands more supported the call through an open letter.
This blog details how the resolution came together. From early research to the final vote, you’ll see how a group of everyday people helped put climate action on the table at one of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies. And if you want to be part of our next campaign, we’ll explain how.
1. Starting with engagement (Sep - Oct 2024)
This work was built on more than two years of research and engagement led by our partners at the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR). ACCR don’t pick issues lightly, instead, they focus on areas where companies need to improve based on evidence and dialogue with the company and investors.
In this case, ACCR and Shell investors were concerned about Shell’s plan to grow its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business by 20-30% by 2030. This expansion conflicts with the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) clear guidance that no new fossil fuel projects should be approved if the world is to limit global warming and meet net zero emissions by 2050.
Although Shell has publicly committed to net zero and the Paris Agreement, its LNG growth threatens to undermine those commitments. It became clear that shareholders deserved answers.
After reviewing ACCR’s research, a number of institutional investors chose to directly engage the company about the risks they saw.
2. Needing to escalate (Nov 2024)
Despite sustained engagement by ACCR and the investors, Shell did not provide adequate responses to the concerns raised. Those involved agreed that it was time to escalate.
ShareAction joined the effort in 2024 to help coordinate the logistical process of co-filing a shareholder resolution and to support wider investor mobilisation, especially among ordinary members of the public.
Three major institutional investors and ACCR, supported by ShareAction - decided to file a shareholder resolution.
The resolution requested that Shell clearly explain how its LNG expansion aligns with its climate commitments.
3. Submitting the resolution (Dec 2024)
Filing a shareholder resolution in the UK involves a formal process that requires backing from shareholders. In this case, the group of institutional investors who had been leading engagement with Shell had already committed to co-filing the resolution.
ShareAction stepped in to support the process by helping coordinate logistics and by opening the door for individual shareholders to take part as well.
In total, over 125 people joined as ‘co-filers.’ Throughout the process, we provided clear guidance and support, helping people understand how to get involved, answering questions, and making it easy to take part. (If this is something that interests you in the future, there’s more information below).
At any point, if Shell had seriously responded or changed course, the resolution could have been withdrawn. But when that didn’t happen, these everyday voices joined institutional investors to escalate pressure.
4. Building support (Jan - Mar)
A successful resolution needs a strong show of support.
To amplify our call, we launched an open letter, which quickly gathered over 3,500 signatures. This helped send a clear message: the resolution wasn’t just a niche investor issue. It mattered to the wider public, too.
At the same time, ACCR continued engaging with large asset managers and institutional investors, especially those holding significant shares in Shell. We shared our reasoning and encouraged them to vote for the resolution. Engaging these key investors is critical because their support increases the pressure on the company to take the issue seriously.
5. Preparing for the AGM (Apr - May)
With the AGM on the horizon, we prepared for the big day.
We worked with Rosemary Croft, a long-time campaigner, to prepare her to speak directly to Shell’s board on behalf of all co-filers and the 3,500+ supporters who had signed our open letter.
We were also proud to support global campaigners and community leaders, including Dr Emem Okon, to attend the meeting and raise their own questions about Shell’s exit from the Niger Delta and the ongoing health and environmental concerns facing local communities. Learn more about Emem’s intervention with our NGO partner Both ENDS.
The logistics were challenging, since the AGM was held inside a no-protest zone at Heathrow Airport, but we were determined to show up and be heard.
6. Inside the room (20 May 2025)
The AGM took place under tight security in a large, windowless auditorium. Despite the subdued setting, our voices cut through.
Two-thirds of all the questions asked in the three-hour meeting were about climate and environmental concerns. Rosemary stood up and asked the board to explain how Shell’s LNG expansion could possibly align with its climate commitments, expressing the support of our co-filers and open letter signers.
Shell’s Chair acknowledged the concern but claimed the company could only move faster if global demand changed. It was a familiar deflection of responsibility. But this year, shareholders weren’t buying it.
7. The result (post-AGM)
When the votes were counted, 20.56% of shareholders supported the resolution. This was a very strong result, considering Shell encouraged shareholders to vote against the resolution.
Under the UK Corporate Governance Code, any resolution that receives over 20% support requires a formal response from the company within six months. CEO Wael Sawan confirmed Shell will publish a detailed note on its website explaining how its LNG business reconciles with its broader strategy and climate commitments.
This means the resolution achieved one of its key goals: getting Shell to be more transparent about how its LNG plans align with its climate strategy. This will help investors and the public better understand Shell’s choices and ask the right questions moving forward.
What’s next?
We’ll be paying close attention to what Shell says next and considering our next steps carefully.
For now, we’re already looking ahead to AGM season 2026. If this story inspired you, and you want to play a part in our next campaign, you can register your interest below. You don’t need to have any prior experience or currently own any shares; we can guide you through the whole process.
- Learn more about AGMs and shareholder resolutions
