Read: Imperial Oil urging investors to vote against Bâtirente's net-zero emissions motion Aequo Shareholder Engagement Services, acting on behalf of Quebec group retirement system Bâtirente, had argued that Imperial's current 2023 emissions reduction target is a step in the right direction but that it's also important to have a long-term strategy. Its motion would have required Imperial to join energy companies including BP, Cenovus Energy Inc., ConocoPhillips Co., Enbridge Inc., Shell and Total in setting a long-term emissions reduction target. During the virtual meeting, Brad Corson, Imperial's chief executive officer, said the board recommended voting against the proposal because, although it supports initiatives to control global warming, it's "premature" to set targets before it knows how to reach them. He said Imperial is focused on its current goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 10 per cent by 2023, relative to 2016 levels.