Finding substantial reserves of oil and natural gas can offer significant opportunities for the social, economic and political development of any country. However, without adequate environmental management, oil and gas operations can have lasting social and environmental impacts such as oil pollution and public health risks. Different stages of oil and gas exploration and production involve the use of chemicals, generate various types of waste, produce greenhouse gas emissions, and take place in human settlements and wildlife habitats. These can also pose risks that may lead to serious environmental damage. Fortunately, countries with emerging oil and gas industries can now benefit from international best practice on environmental management.
While the long-term goal of UNEP is to reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels to fight climate change, it is also recognized that oil and gas will remain part of the global energy mix in the foreseeable future. Ensuring that oil and gas are produced in an environmentally and socially acceptable manner and do not impact negatively on local communities are therefore an integral part of UNEP’s work in this sector.
UNEP and Norway have a collaboration under the Environment Pillar of Norway’s Oil for Development (OfD) Programme (now reconstituted as the Energy for Development Programme). This partnership began in September 2016 and will run until 2024. The main goal of this partnership is to enable countries to access best practice and reduce environmental risks associated with petroleum development. The Partnership works to enhance national capacities in environmental governance and management in OfD-supported countries which have included: Angola, Cuba, Ghana, Lebanon, Iraq, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania/Zanzibar, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Colombia. UNEP has provided dedicated support to Iraq, Somalia, Colombia, Ghana and countries in East Africa.
Main services
- In-country Capacity Needs Assessments;
- Trainings and Capacity Building;
- In-country Technical Assistance;
- Global outreach and multi-stakeholder dialogues
UNEP has experience working with the oil industry in fragile and vulnerable countries and delivering capacity building support, including from its work in Ogoniland, Nigeria. It can draw from its in-house expertise and global network of partners, which will complement the specialized assistance provided by Norway.
