The Oil & Gas Industry and the Environment
Module 5: Solving Problems: Policy, Regulations & Codes
■ Multilateral Environmental Agreements  > Regulatory Approaches > Voluntary Initiatives

Voluntary Initiatives		  
Government regulation is increasingly being supplemented by voluntary codes and agreements that cover aspects not easily achieved by conventional legislation.  These measures can include codes of practice, industry association policies, standards and strategies.
 
International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) promotes and co-ordinates Responsible Care a voluntary chemical industry initiative. Under Responsible Care, the worldwide chemical industry is committed to continual improvement in all aspects of health, safety and environmental performance and to open communication about its activities and achievements.  For more information visit the ICCA Web site or read the ICCA Responsible Care Status Report 2002
 
  

ARPEL - Regional Association of Oil and Natural Gas Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, Code of Environmental Conduct.
 
  
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Code of Environmental Practice.
 
  
The American Petroleum Institute  STEP (Strategies for Today's Environmental Partnerships) Program.  This program serves to encourage petroleum industry members to commit to environmental stewardship in their policies and principles, and develop programs to ensure safe, environmentally sound operating practices.
 
  
International Organisation for Standardization: the generic management system standards ISO9000 and ISO14000
 

United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) Strategy for Sustainable Development 'Striking a Balance' in the Upstream (Exploration and Production) industry.  Includes 58 commitments in the categories of Economy, Environment, Society and Stewardship, with an additional five relating to key processes for delivery - performance measurement and reporting, stakeholder engagement and best practice sharing throughout our industry.

Commitments include:

  • No. 38 Industry-wide adoption of EMS
  • No. 39 - Biodiversity and environmentally sensitive areas
  • No. 40 - Sharing good practice, ensuring guideline compliance

UKOOA Sustainability Strategy - "Striking a Balance" - First Report 2002  annual progress reviews and the report that follows sets out our industry's first report on performance to date against the commitments made, our successes, gaps, and our plans for improvement.

United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) - greenhouse gas reduction programmes across the industry. These include the voluntary Flare Consents Pilot and the UK Emissions' Trading (ACBE-CBI) Scheme