Climate protesters stormed Shell's annual shareholder meeting in London yesterday, with security having to step in to protect board members.
Proceedings were delayed as the protesters, yelling "shut down Shell", ran to the front of the room where executives were sitting on stage.
Some demonstrators had to be carried out of the building by security.
Shell said protesters were not "interested in constructive engagement" as crowds continued to gather outside.
In a statement, the energy giant said it was keen to underline it had a "clear target of net-zero emissions by 2050".
However, campaign groups are looking to ramp up the pressure on Shell and other energy companies to bring forward those targets to absolute carbon emissions cuts by 2030 and focus more resources on renewables.
Groups outside meeting
Groups gathering outside the investor event include Christian Climate Action, a branch of Extinction Rebellion; Catholic protest group Laudato Si' Movement; and Quakers for Climate Justice.
Shell's chief executive Wael Sawan defended the company against accusations that it was not switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy quickly enough.
Mr Sawan said the company had invested $4.3billion (£3.5billion) in 2022 in low-carbon energy, including biofuels, hydrogen, electric car charging and renewable power.
He conceded that was only part of its total capital spending of $25billion (£20billion) - most of which was on oil and gas.
In February, Shell reported profits of $39.9billion (£32billion) for 2022, double the previous year's total and the highest in its 115-year history.
While the jump in oil and gas prices following the start of the war in Ukraine led to big profits for energy companies, it also fuelled a rise in energy bills for households and businesses.
Delay
The BBC says that proceedings, which were due to start at 10am, did not get under way until well past 11am amid waves of disruption from activists.
Shortly after the meeting began, a choir of protesters began a song to the tune of Hit The Road Jack, singing: "Go to hell Shell and don't you come back no more."
As protesters were later carried out by security, Shell's chairman Sir Andrew Mackenzie could be heard saying: "We want to have a civilised debate."
CEO Mr Sawan implored shareholders not to vote through a resolution proposed by activist group Follow This, which called for Shell to make absolute cuts to carbon emissions from 2030.
He said significant investment in oil and gas is needed “to safeguard energy security”, whilst also conceding that “it is also clear the world is underinvesting in low to zero carbon energy.”
The CEO said Shell needs to invest in both for a smooth transition.
Cutting supply
“As we have seen all too well in the last year, cutting supply while demand is unchanged does not work.”
Just over 20% of shareholders ultimately voted for the resolution proposed by Follow This.
The Telegraph says that, as well as pressure over its environmental targets, Shell’s board faced pensioners who were frustrated by poor returns and a focus on using profits to buy its own shares rather than pay dividends.
The company’s share price has gained little ground in the recent past, losing 5% over the last five years and offering a yield of less than 4%.
John Farmer, a shareholder who attended the event, said: “Your performance over the last decade has been miserable, chairman.”
He added: “And I think having kept us here for so long, that you ought in future to provide a decent lunch.”