An effective multi-stakeholder strategy for environmental sustainability in oil and gas-producing areas.

Debski, Joy Anwulika

Abstract

Environmental sustainability dominates global discourse because of the increasing challenges of mitigation and adaptation to global warming. The aims and targets of ongoing international initiatives are proving insufficient, and are particularly difficult to implement in developing countries. As a result, stricter measures to prevent human exploitation of the environment are urgently needed. It has therefore become imperative for major stakeholders - identified as governments, the oil and gas industry, and host communities - to work collaboratively towards the common goal of environmental sustainability. This research also advocates a governance strategy for Nigeria to ensure the achievement of environmental sustainability. To achieve this aim, the research critically examines regional and global strategies/institutional frameworks for environmental sustainability, and analyses the strategies that major oil and gas companies have put in place to improve stakeholder engagement, before finally examining host community engagement in order to enhance environmental sustainability. The research concludes that, although environmental sustainability is vital for the identified stakeholders, it is impossible to achieve this goal without a more collaborative approach. Thus, it advocates a Multi-Stakeholder Strategy for environmental sustainability, through the establishment, by the government concerned, of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Commission for Environmental Sustainability. This Commission, through its agreed mandate, can facilitate partners with requisite stakeholders and endorse company policies aimed at securing this goal. The novel approach adopted by this research can, at the same time, point policymakers in Nigeria in the right direction, after previous unsuccessful efforts to enact CSR legislation. Concurrently, oil and gas companies can improve and centralise their goals for environmental sustainability through the research-proposed CSR Commission, which will also provide competency training and stakeholder engagement strategies. Finally, host communities will be empowered by the expertise of the CSR Commission to negotiate their agendas with oil and gas companies, guaranteeing the environmental sustainability of their precious heritage and natural environment.

Citation

DEBSKI, J.A. 2023. An effective multi-stakeholder strategy for environmental sustainability in oil and gas-producing areas. Robert Gordon University, PhD thesis. Hosted on OpenAIR [online]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2071585

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 5, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 5, 2023
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2071585
• Keywords: Environmental policy; Environmental sustainability; Oil and gas industry; Corporate social responsibility; Nigeria
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2071585
• Award Date: Feb 28, 2023