Leaders from some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, including BP Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Saudi Aramco, pledged in an open letter continued efforts toward climate change initiatives despite facing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The open letter, which was issued and signed by the CEOs of all the member companies of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) on May 26, stated that the unprecedented challenges has sharpened their focus on “what really matters.”

“Our immediate priority, as CEOs, is to do everything we can so that our people and communities are safe and capable of confronting the pandemic effectively,” the group stated in the letter. “We will work to help the world recover from the economic shock of this crisis that has undoubtedly hit some more than others yet impacts us all.”

Formed in 2014, OGCI is a CEO-led consortium that aims to accelerate the industry response to climate change, including explicitly supporting the Paris Agreement and its goals. The group, comprised of BP, Chevron Corp., CNPC, Eni SpA, Equinor ASA, Exxon Mobil, Occidental Petroleum Corp., Petrobras, Repsol SA, Saudi Aramco, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Total SA, collectively invest over $7 billion each year in low carbon solutions.

In the May 26 open letter, the OGCI consortium highlighted the need for new technologies, more effective policy and infrastructure investments to address the scale of the climate challenge.

“As all eyes look for the most effective approaches to emerge from this crisis, you can count on us to do our part,” the group stated. “We will continue to work with others to support economic recovery and to transition to a healthier, lower-carbon future.”

The group also reiterated continued efforts in the following areas:

  • Accelerate emissions reduction efforts within the companies through continued reductions in methane emissions;
  • Continue supporting the development and implementation of low carbon solutions in oil and gas, other industries and commercial transportation through OGCI Climate Investments;
  • Advance opportunities to scale up commercially viable, environmentally responsible, and safe carbon capture, use and storage to decarbonize multiple industrial sectors; and
  • Continue supporting governments in designing efficient policies to accelerate energy transitions, while stimulating economic growth, including working with partners such as the International Energy Agency, the Clean Energy Ministerial and the Global Methane Alliance.

Lastly, the CEOs also called for a consistent and dedicated approach in fighting climate change, citing that the most successful responses to the pandemic have revealed how collaboration and solidarity are essential when facing global issues.

“This serves to reinforce the value of our collective effort to address the climate challenge through the collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society and the broader population,” the group stated.

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