Corporate Responsibility

Williams demonstrates strong ESG performance

Tom Droege

Several key rankings show Williams continues to demonstrate industry leadership in the areas of environmental, social and governance – also called “ESG.”

The disclosure rankings tell investors and the broader public how companies stack up on ESG metrics.

CDP, a widely known global ranking, most recently recognized Williams for its commitment to transparency and governance around climate change.

“As the first North American midstream company to set aggressive and actionable climate targets, Williams is committed to addressing climate change in a pragmatic and economically feasible manner across our operations, and we hold ourselves accountable through transparent interactions with customers, employees and shareholders,” said Alan Armstrong, president and chief executive officer.

“This recognition from CDP demonstrates that Williams is on the right track to successfully sustain and evolve our natural gas-focused business to reduce emissions and build a clean energy economy while delivering long-term value to stakeholders.”

Williams was recognized by CDP with a ‘B’ score for its commitment to transparency and governance around climate change, ranking above the sector (oil and gas storage and transportation) average of ‘C’ and exceeding the North American regional average of ‘D’.

The other ESG Ratings & Rankings that are the most relevant to Williams and shareholders also released scores for 2020 as follows:

  • Dow Jones Sustainability Index: Williams ranked in the top 7% in the oil and gas storage and transportation industry and peer group and was added to the Dow Jones North America Sustainable Index for the first time this year.
  • Sustainalytics: Williams ranked in the top 5% in the Refiners and Pipelines industry group, reflecting strong management of material Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.
  • MSCI: Williams maintained a BB rating, illustrating its ongoing emphasis on ESG developments.

In addition to these rankings, Williams continues to take an active industry role in demonstrating real and sustainable achievements in ESG reporting. Williams recently co-led an initiative though the Energy Infrastructure Council (EIC) to launch the first-ever Midstream Company ESG Reporting Template. The tool allows midstream energy infrastructure companies to present their sustainability metrics that matter most to investors in a transparent and comparable way.

To learn more about ESG at Williams visit: www.williams.com/esg