“This is certainly a significant announcement for the Gwich’in people, who are arguably one of the most Anglican native nations in the world,” said Bishop MacDonald to reporters following the shareholder’s meeting, which drew nearly 2000 investors, media, environmentalists and protestors to London’s Royal Festival Hall. “The scope of the resolution would have recognized the concerns of other indigenous peoples in its operations around the world.”

The announcement was made by Peter D. Sutherland, chairman of the Chairman’s Committee of BP (formerly British Petroleum). This is the first time BP has publicly announced that drilling in the sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not part of the company’s current business plan. Sutherland was careful to portray BP’s concern for the rights and needs of indigenous peoples.

“For centuries, the Christian moral tradition and the Western legal tradition have consistently promoted aboriginal rights as a fundamental element of basic and minimal commitment to justice,” said MacDonald in his presentation to the board and investors. “These traditions have been underlined in the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

Article 25 of that declaration, which is supported by many nations but not officially by the United States, says, “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual and material relationship with the lands, territories, waters and coastal sea and other resources which they have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used, and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard.”

“Though these traditions are accepted almost unanimously in theory, governments, corporations, and sadly, even religious institutions have far too consistently undermined or stolen the capacity for aboriginal peoples to survive,” MacDonald said.

Protecting a reputation as well as the environment

The resolution was supported by a number of socially responsible and institutional investors. In a letter written to BP chief executive Lord Browne of Madingley, shareholders expressed concern that investment values could be negatively impacted from operating in protected and sensitive areas and need to be disclosed. “Failing to do so could place BP’s reputation and brand image at significant risk,” the letter stated. “While we commend BP for recognizing the value of integrating biodiversity conservation into future oil and gas development projects, we feel that an essential element of any biodiversity conservation strategy must be to refrain from operating in designated protected areas.”

In its posted response on the Internet, BP recommended that shareholders vote against the resolution. “We will continue to develop and implement our policies and guidelines on operating in sensitive areas. We are sympathetic to elements of the supporting statement [of the resolution] and believe that there is room for continued debate and progress. We will continue to meet with many more interested parties and will benefit from the dialogue and mutual learning. However, in view of our already comprehensive approach, we believe that the report requested in the resolution is unnecessary.” In the days leading up to the annual meeting, company officials posted to its website new and improved statements regarding support for biodiversity.

At its February meeting, the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council voted in support of a resolution instructing the treasurer to vote in favor of all resolutions asking companies to report on the potential of environmental damage from oil drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic. A shareholder’s resolution similar to the one offered by BP investors is now also pending before Conoco Phillips. BP stock was restricted from ECUSA financial holdings several years ago as a result of BP relations with subsidiaries or interests in operations in the Sudan.

Browne met with MacDonald after the meeting, joined by Athan Manuel, director of the Arctic Wilderness Campaign of U.S. PIRG’s Education Fund, who co-presented the shareholder’s resolution.

“The Episcopal Church has been a powerful ally in the legislative campaign to protect the coastal plain from oil and gas exploration,” said Manuel. “The church has proven to be an equally powerful ally as a socially responsible investor.”

While in London, MacDonald was received by Bishop Peter Selby of the Diocese of Worcester, a member of the Church of England’s Ethical Investment Advisory group. MacDonald also met with representatives of BP and the Socially Responsible Investment unit at CCLA Investment Management Limited.