FACING THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE-A PAPER FOR THE WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS OF 1997-A JOINT IPIECA/E AND P FORUM/OCIMF CONTRIBUTION

摘要

Energy has been, and remains, the drive for economic growth. All economies in the developed and developing world identify fossil fuels as their prime source of energy well into the 21st century. Global society is increasingly sensitive to environmental damage and the use of fossil fuels is being challenged as potentially harmful to the environment. At the global level, the future of fossil fuels is central to the Climate Change Convention negotiations. Regionally and nationally, the impact of the petroleum industry operations and its wide range of products is perceived to be at the core of issues such as urban air quality, ground water pollution, pollution of the seas and a wide range of health related concerns.The petroleum industry is a technology intensive industry and its continuing capacity to discover, manufacture, and deliver its products to the market place depend on the application and further development of that scientific and technical knowledge. An increasing amount of that research and development has been, and will continue to be, dedicated to minimising the environmental impact of its operations and products-more environmentally sensitive operations, cleaner production processes, more secure transportation operations, cleaner fuel and lubricants, alternative specialist products, improved waste management-all resulting in reduced environmental impact.Nevertheless, society's expectations and perceptions of risk are rapidly changing and reflected in changing life style and consumer behaviour. The industry's continuing efforts to deliver credible environmental messages are clearly not yet highly rated in the public mind. More effort and new approaches will need to be developed and tested. More energy will have to be devoted to understanding the public perception of environmental and health risks. This will involve more intensive, open and participatory exchanges with the stakeholders whether the issues are of international, national or local concern. The foundation for those discussions, and the key to industry credibility, will be clear evidence of continuing improvement in minimising the environmental impact of its operations and products. Tt is thought that the public will ultimately underwrite our ongoing licence to operate.