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Provisions and other non-current liabilities (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of detailed information about provisions and non-current liabilities [abstract] |
Disclosure of other provisions [text block] |
(USD millions) |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |
Accrued liability for employee benefits: |  |  |  |  |
Defined benefit pension plans 1 |  | 3 538 |  | 3 469 |
Other long-term employee benefits and deferred compensation |  | 637 |  | 546 |
Other post-employment benefits 1 |  | 543 |  | 612 |
Environmental remediation provisions |  | 642 |  | 592 |
Provisions for product liabilities, governmental investigations and other legal matters |  | 181 |  | 200 |
Contingent consideration 2 |  | 984 |  | 958 |
Other non-current liabilities |  | 409 |  | 255 |
Total provisions and other non-current liabilities |  | 6 934 |  | 6 632 |
1 Note 25 provides additional disclosures related to post-employment benefits.
2 Note 29 provides additional disclosures related to contingent consideration.
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies [table text block] |
(USD millions) |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |
January 1 |  | 714 |  | 692 |  | 761 |
Cash payments |  | – 10 |  | – 30 |  | – 48 |
Releases 1 |  | – 27 |  | –  83 |  | – 21 |
Additions 2 |  | 82 |  | 124 |  | 7 |
Currency translation effects |  | 50 |  | 11 |  | – 7 |
December 31 |  | 809 |  | 714 |  | 692 |
Less current provision |  | – 167 |  | – 122 |  | – 58 |
Non-current environmental remediation provisions at December 31 |  | 642 |  | 592 |  | 634 |
1 Releases of provisions credited to the consolidated income statement from continuing operations were USD 21 million in 2018.
2 Additions to provisions charged to the consolidated income statement from continuing operations were USD 7 million in 2018.
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies, fiscal year maturity [table text block] |
(USD millions) |  | Expected cash outflows |
Due within two years |  | 181 |
Due later than two years, but within five years |  | 210 |
Due later than five years, but within 10 years |  | 338 |
Due after 10 years |  | 80 |
Total environmental remediation liability provisions |  | 809 |
Accrual for product liabilities government investigations other legal matters loss contingencies [table text block] |
(USD millions) |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |
January 1 |  | 1 369 |  | 340 |  | 351 |
Provisions related to discontinued operations 1 |  |  |  | – 42 |  |  |
Impact of acquisitions of businesses |  | 11 |  | 10 |  |  |
Cash payments |  | – 1 863 |  | – 116 |  | – 118 |
Releases of provisions 2 |  | – 31 |  | – 52 |  | – 107 |
Additions to provisions 3 |  | 1 018 |  | 1 230 |  | 220 |
Currency translation effects |  | – 17 |  | – 1 |  | – 6 |
December 31 |  | 487 |  | 1 369 |  | 340 |
Less current portion |  | – 306 |  | – 1 169 |  | – 126 |
Non-current product liabilities, governmental investigations and other legal matters provisions at December 31 |  | 181 |  | 200 |  | 214 |
1 Notes 1, 2 and 30 provide information related to discontinued operations.
2 Releases of provisions credited to the consolidated income statement from continuing operations were USD 107 million in 2018.
3 Additions to provisions charged to the consolidated income statement from continuing operations were USD 220 million in 2018.

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