Engaging Our Communities and Stakeholders
overnment and Public Affairs (G&PA) builds and maintains relationships with key internal and
external audiences, including employees, members of the public, government and the media; and
works to enrich the company's global community through social investment, employee volunteerism
and charitable giving.
The company's philanthropic contributions totaled $70 million during 2008.
To help educate the youth of America on vital energy issues, ConocoPhillips sponsors an energy education program, which conveys information that school teachers can incorporate into their curricula.
"ConocoPhillips understands the public's expectation that we serve as a responsible member of society," says Red Cavaney, senior vice president, Government and Public Affairs. "Our contributions, volunteer activities and strategic outreach are all intended to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work."
Responding to research indicating that today's youth lack sufficient access to information on long-term energy issues, G&PA sponsors a program to improve energy education in classrooms across the United States. This effort directly benefitted more than 114,000 students in 2008, and continues in 2009.
G&PA supported ConocoPhillips' call for enactment of a comprehensive U.S. energy policy by developing advocacy opportunities for senior executives. The department also served as the company's liaison with state and federal government officials on legislative and regulatory issues. During 2008 these efforts contributed to the expiration of a 27-year-long U.S. government moratorium on offshore exploration and production. In preparation for the 2008 U.S. elections, the organization provided employees with primers on the voting process and conducted activities encouraging them to vote.
Additionally, G&PA extended the company's efforts to encourage outside innovation through the ConocoPhillips Energy Prize award program in conjunction with Penn State.