Respecting human rights, labor standards and environmental justice

We respect the universally recognized human rights of all people, including our personnel, our suppliers and individuals in the communities in which we operate. We work to identify and prevent potential adverse human rights impacts from our operations, and we are committed to remediating impacts should they occur. 

Our due diligence process includes implementing social impact assessments at all site locations to understand community-focused environmental and social risks, including those related to human rights, and developing mitigation and management plans based on the results of these assessments. 

We undertake meaningful consultation with potentially affected groups, and other relevant stakeholders, to understand risks and concerns. We follow stakeholder engagement plans at each site, and conduct regular, proactive engagement and consultation with various stakeholder groups to understand their concerns and provide relevant project information. We have a grievance mechanism in place at all site locations, including procedures to respond to and address stakeholder concerns, from the beginning of project planning and throughout the project life cycle. We log and track community feedback and strive to address concerns in a timely and transparent manner. 

We respect the sovereignty, rights and culture of Indigenous peoples. Proactive engagement with these communities, when relevant based on the locations of our operations, is an important element of our overall stakeholder engagement, consultation and grievance processes.

Unless otherwise established by contract or required by applicable law, our employees are employed on an at-will basis and have the right to terminate employment at any time, for any reason or no reason at all. In circumstances where employment arises via contract, we engage in efforts to ensure that such employment contracts comply with laws and fair labor standards applicable to the area of employment.

In addition to our own ban on child labor, Cheniere strives not to purchase products or components thereof manufactured by people younger than 15 years of age or younger than the age of completing compulsory education in the manufacturing country where such age is higher than 15. We also seek to work with suppliers who promote universal human rights standards in accordance with applicable laws.

Environmental justice

We believe in the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Cheniere is committed to seeking out, respectfully listening and responding to the concerns of our stakeholders to understand their unique values and interests, including those on environmental issues. We strive to understand and mitigate the impacts of our operations, engage with affected stakeholders and contribute to meaningful economic community development. As part of our Social Performance Framework, in alignment with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Environmental Justice (EJ) , our stakeholder engagement approach includes EJ communities as a specific stakeholder group.

Our Social Performance Framework includes a commitment to support the principles of EJ throughout our project life cycles by engaging and partnering with minority, tribal or economically disadvantaged communities. This includes a requirement to identify EJ issues when evaluating social risks and impacts and to help mitigate any disproportionate effects on communities composed predominately of people of color or those living below the poverty line.

Our site-specific social impact assessments consider community-focused environmental and social impacts of our operations. This includes evaluating the presence of EJ communities based on local demographics, and potential EJ issues such as adverse effects to human health, the environment, climate and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged communities, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts. We undertake these assessments at the early stages of project planning and update them throughout ongoing operations. Our approach is guided by international best practices, including the International Finance Corporation’s Environmental and Social Performance frameworks, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s guidance and the Equator Principles. 

Considering and attempting to address potential environmental impacts is also included in our targeted stakeholder engagement and community investment efforts, and grievance processes.