Environmental Management for Sustainable Development
Learning outcomes assessed:
- Apply a critical analysis of the international economic, environmental, legal and social-political issues surrounding climate change and sustainability and developing countries’ concerns.
- Critically evaluate alternative means available to ensure the sustainable development of oil and gas industries.
- Evaluate the actions by consumers and governments to strengthen measures for sustainable development of oil and gas industries.
- Analyse the impact of sustainable strategies on the oil and gas industry[unique_solution]
This coursework is worth 100% of the total marks for this module.
Page 1 of 9
Assignment Brief
Sustainability and what it means for the Oil and Gas
Companies
Background
The World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs”.
The oil and gas industries may find it difficult to continue in their present strategy in the future if sustainable approaches are not implemented fully at various levels of their own commercial businesses. This is mainly due to constant changes in regulations, the finite sources of fossil fuels, environmental issues, including climate change and global warming and other related factors and challenges.
Assignment Task
As a consultant, you have been tasked to write a 4,000-word Report to critically analyse the sustainable factors that oil and gas companies need to plan for and implement, in order to protect their own businesses and the natural environment. At the same time, also provide a critical reflection and insight on how oil and gas companies can manage and accommodate any future changes in local, national and international regulations and laws, especially those dealing with the environment and sustainability.
Your report should discuss the following areas:
- Sustainability should be critically evaluated and implemented within the three stages of oil and gas production, i.e. upstream, midstream and downstream.
- Determine the impacts on the oil and gas sector and the environment if sustainable development is implemented in full.
- Critically evaluate the challenges facing oil and gas companies during and after the implementation of sustainable methods.
- Discuss and evaluate the present research and possible future development in the field of sustainability and sustainable development within the oil and gas industries.
INDICATIVE ANSWERS
Knowledge and Understanding (worth 35% of marks)
- What is Sustainability?
- How can the oil and gas implement it without major impacts on their business on the short term as well as how they should plan in order to protect the environment?
- Examine how oil and gas companies can manage and accommodate any future changes in local, national and international regulations and laws.
- Student should reflect on the challenges oil and gas companies may face during the above process at various levels; (upstream, midstream and downstream).
Intellectual and Cognitive Skills (worth 40% of marks)
Interpretation and analysis of the research data will be a prime consideration for marking. Therefore, students should analyse the common question/statement “Is it possible for the oil and gas companies” to implement sustainable approach and protect the natural environment? At what cost? How laws and regulations may help or hinder the above approach? How to deal with each stage (upstream, midstream and downstream) of the oil and gas exploration/production while implementing sustainability for the purpose of benefiting both oil and gas companies and the natural environment.
Graduate skills (worth 25% of marks)
Inclusion of title, page numbering, robust use of Harvard methodology in both citations and Referencing/Bibliography.