Outcome of the Expert Meeting on Environmental Practices in Offshore Oil and Gas Activities

Abstract

Abstract An international Expert Meeting on Environmental Practices in Offshore Oil and Gas Activities was organized by Brazil and The Netherlands. This Expert Meeting took place from 17 to 20 November 1997 in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. More than 250 participants from 59 countries and 25 international organizations, including representatives from the offshore industry and environmental organizations, participated in the Expert Meeting. The objectives of the Expert Meeting were (1) to exchange information and experiences with regard to offshore oil and gas activities in relation to protection of the marine environment, among relevant actors, (2) to capture sound environmental practices, with the aim to enhance environmental performance in offshore E&P activities, (3) to exchange information and experiences on the establishment and implementation of policies, strategies, environmental approaches, systems etc., and (4) to maintain and improve international co-operation, participation and exchange of information and experiences between countries, industry and relevant organisations. One of the main conclusion of the Expert Meeting was that the concept of "Sustainable Development" in offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation can be made operational in the form of a joint development of environmental best practice guidelines in offshore oil and gas activities, obtained through open discussion between countries, governmental organisations and other interested parties within the framework of regional or local environmental and socio-economic conditions. Furthermore, it was noted that the offshore oil and gas industry operates in the context of a multitude of social, economic, physical and environmental factors, according to the principles of Sustainable Development and the Precautionary Approach, as articulated in Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The balance between these factors varies from region to region; companies and joint-ventures operate on a global scale in strong world market competition, as well as in the context of global and regional conventions. It was also concluded that efforts should be made to ensure that similar meetings will take place on a periodic basis in the future, in order to create a forum for the free exchange of information, experiences and ideas between regulators, the offshore petroleum sector, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organisations.