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Collaborating Authors
Abstract Biodiversity is the thermometer of the health of the environment and vital to long term sustainability. Placing biodiversity and environmental capital at risk has proven to be a costly business, but, the burden of proof of environmental damage and liability claims is left with the public. Stakeholders are now demanding that companies pioneering energy development in new vulnerable "high risk "frontier areas should bear the costs up front of insurance or financial assurance bonds. Such market mechanisms would re-gear risk incentives and capture ecosystem values thereby driving reduction of future disasters. In order to set target values and implement the necessary financial mechanisms tools are needed which capture key metrics which reflect the value of ecosystems biodiversity, their services and long-term support functions. Global studies are now delivering critical data focused on categorising ecosystem values and the services they provide which is changing the perception of "using environment for free". Data from international oil spill risk assessment and environmental liability work will illustrate the benefits of new metrics placing financial values on ecosystem services for use in strategic resources and emergency risk management. Capitalising on this approach a system in development will be presented that uniquely combines ecovalues from around the globe on a geographic information system with the latest cost data from the insurance sector on environmental claims and liability. This unique combined system, incorporating risk reduction measures, will form the nucleus of metrics to assess and set the worst case dollar value of risk to biodiversity and ecosystem damage for coastal, offshore or onshore geographic areas. This system has global applications for venture risk managers, governments and insurers who will be able to utilise this system to develop and benchmark environmental risk cases for proposed energy development. According to the Rio+ 20 conference attended by scientists and politicians, progress since the Rio Earth Summit has not met expectations, and the implementation challenges of sustainable development have proved to be much more difficult. The robustness of "life services" upon which business and society depend and their continued delivery relies upon their ecological integrity interactive functioning, biodiversity (variety of plant animals) and abundance. Biodiversity is the thermometer of the health of the environment and vital to long term sustainability. Current species extinction rates have been highlighted in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) in which a staggering degree of irreversible biodiversity loss has been revealed. Now 10–30% of the mammal, bird and amphibian species face extinction. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) records that nature is failing in the fight to regenerate in the face of consumption of resources. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) indicates that species face extinction including 1 out of 7 turtles face extinction; I in 8 birds; lin 4 mammals; I in 3 amphibians. Some 75% of world fisheries are fully or over exploited and 1 in 3 species of coral reef building coral face extinction. Meanwhile some 350 million people suffer from water shortage ()
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Banking & Finance (1.00)
Abstract With the ever increasing concerns regarding the global loss in biodiversity, there is a growing need and expectation for developments to improve the way that biodiversity impacts are managed. By working in collaboration across oil & gas, mining and financial sectors, the CSBI has developed clear practical tools and guidance. The CSBI pools expertise and experience from three sectors to promote scientific, innovative and practical applications of the mitigation hierarchy to manage project-related impacts on biodiversity. This paper describes an integrated approach for improving the way in which projects avoid, reduce, restore and offset biodiversity impacts, and how this can be applied in relation to project timeline and underpinned by the collection of baseline biodiversity data.
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Banking & Finance (1.00)
ABSTRACT Despite the documented presence of high biodiversity values, the preliminary baseline studies included in Environmental Impact Assessment studies (EIAs) in developing countries are often very generic, rely on limited primary data and do not include comprehensive biodiversity baseline surveys including habitat mapping and data on marine fauna aligned with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) requirements. This becomes a critical issue for companies or financing institutions (IFIs) applying specific standards on biodiversity conservation and protection such as IFC PS6 and EBRD PR6, as well as other recognizes requirements, in the decision making process when studies are located within or in close proximity to legally protected areas, Important Bird Areas, Key Biodiversity Areas and, in general, areas of relevance from a biodiversity conservation perspective. This study presents the rationale and outcomes of a phased biodiversity study (Phased BIA) that has been developed to improve knowledge and fill initial gaps identified in the EIA study of an O&G development project in Egypt, Red Sea. The Phased BIA included:a desktop review of biodiversity baseline conditions with preliminary identification of existing habitats and presence of species; a desktop biodiversity habitat mapping with identification of potential modified, natural and critical habitats; the definition of specific coastal and marine biodiversity surveys within the Project area of influence; a subsequent habitat mapping refinement exercise following "Ground-Truthing" techniques and drafting of habitat maps with the aim to provide a more robust and reliable impact assessment. INTRODUCTION In the preliminary baseline studies of an Environmental Impact Assessment (hereafter EIA), the terms primary data and secondary data are common parlance, with the latter usually more common than the former. Primary data is collected on field by experts for the specific purpose under consideration, in this case understanding the baseline elements in which a project will be developed, and its impacts will possibly occur. Secondary data analysis, on the other hand, is the use of data that was collected by someone else for some other purpose, sometimes similar, sometimes very different.
- Asia > Middle East > Yemen (1.00)
- Asia > Middle East > Saudi Arabia (1.00)
- Africa > Middle East > Egypt (1.00)
- Africa > Middle East > Djibouti (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (1.00)
- Energy (1.00)
Advancements in Biodiversity Baseline Assessment and Monitoring Approaches for Enhanced Oil & Gas Performance
Viana, Leonardo R. (Conservation International) | Weikel, Marielle Canter (Conservation International) | Blaha, Jennifer (Conservation International) | Larsen, Trond Halvor (Conservation International) | Ahumada, Jorge (Conservation International) | Romer, Ruth (IPIECA)
Abstract Several recent developments within the regulatory and project finance realms have converged to create strong drivers for improving project biodiversity baseline assessment and monitoring in the oil and gas industry. Along with these drivers, enhanced guidance and approaches have emerged which support more robust and replicable biodiversity baselines, in order to inform decision-making in application of the mitigation hierarchy and long-term project monitoring. A number of industry guidance documents that have been developed over the last decade focused on enhancing the sector's approach to biodiversity baseline assessment and monitoring. One recent example is the guidance Good Practices for the Collection of Biodiversity Baseline Data prepared by the Multilateral Financing Institutions Biodiversity Working Group and the Cross-Sector Biodiversity Initiative (CSBI); this guide "summarizes ‘good practices’ for biodiversity baseline studies that support biodiversity-inclusive impact assessment and management planning" (Gullison et al 2015). In addition, Conservation International (CI) and partners have developed detailed protocols for strengthened biodiversity baseline assessment and monitoring, namely through the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) and Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) approaches. CI's RAP program recently published the first handbook on standardized rapid biological field assessment for 12 taxonomic groups. TEAM offers standardized methods for the collection of biodiversity data from passive sensors that can be deployed easily and effectively by small field teams, covering hundreds of square kilometers. Standardized TEAM site monitoring protocols are used at 17 field stations around the world. Leveraging recent guidance and approaches can provide a greater level of assurance in biodiversity baseline assessment via enhanced data collection and subsequent monitoring to meet emerging stakeholder expectations from governments, financial lenders and industry, ideally saving time and money over the life of a project.
- South America (1.00)
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Africa (1.00)
- Asia (0.94)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.47)
Abstract Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services are critical in maintaining ecosystem health and human well-being and protecting plant and animal species and ecosystems where we operate is an essential component of our health, safety, and environmental commitment. This paper will show the parallel evolution of the industry understanding and the corresponding development of the ConocoPhillips’ biodiversity position, commitments, strategy and actions designed to conserve biodiversity as part of our commitment to reduce the effects of our activities on the environment. The discussion will highlight some key business results, business practices, processes and tools we use to assess impacts, track plans and implement our Biodiversity Position. The paper will cover Development of Biodiversity Action Plans for operated assets and projects located in areas of high conservation value. Use of widely available and effective planning tools such as those developed by lPlECA, Energy and Biodiversity Initiative, and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers to facilitate biodiversity conservation. Consideration of targeted opportunities for habitat improvement, including projects for rehabilitation. Collaboration with key stakeholders to increase capacity for biodiversity protection, internally and in related institutions and communities. This presentation will show how the company works individually and through industry consortiums to build awareness and responsiveness to this issue.