Embedding and Operationalizing Sustainable Development Goals in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

Abstract The concept of sustainable development emerged from global public pressure in the 1980s and ultimately forced itself onto the agenda of governments and international institutions. It is now embraced as the global standard for measuring development objectives and performance in both developed and developing countries. The emergence of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, and its subsequent replacement by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, clearly shows that the concept has indeed made significant progress by moving from global rhetoric and debates to local practice and action. The SDGs aim to address economic, social and environmental challenges. Member states of the United Nations (including Nigeria) are expected to use the SDGs to frame their development agendas, while clearly recognizing that the private sector has an important role to play in this regard. There is no doubt that the oil and gas industry is central to sustainable development in many national economies. Oil and gas are key pillars of the global energy system. As such, they are critical drivers of economic and social development. Although the industry contributes to sustainable development in several ways, its operations and products potentially have negative impacts on a range of areas covered by the SDGs, including communities, ecosystems and economies. Within the context of sustainable development in Nigeria, the overarching aim for the Nigerian oil and gas industry is to do business responsibly by contributing to society; minimizing risks and doing no harm. This paper demonstrates that with careful planning and implementation, the Nigerian oil and gas industry can contribute across all SDGs by enhancing its positive contributions as well as avoiding or mitigating the negative impacts associated with its operations. Three fundamental steps are necessary in this regard, namely: identification of relevant SDGs; stakeholder engagement and collaboration. The Nigerian oil and gas industry can embed and operationalize the SDGs in their core business practices by incorporating carefully chosen and relevant SDGs into their corporate systems, policies and processes.