A major conference exploring sustainable development and the oil and gas industry will take place in Aberdeen tomorrow (Tuesday, November 20).
The University of Aberdeen has teamed up with BP and Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants to run the conference, which will bring together a number of high profile individuals who are involved in the sustainable development arena.
The keynote speaker and chair for the day is Paul Ekins, Head of Environment at the Policy Studies Institute and an Associate Director of Forum for the Future. Professor Ekins is well known in the oil and gas industry and has written the foreword to UKOOA’s Sustainability Strategy. Other speakers include Rhona Brankin, Scottish Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs, Roger Levett Levett-Therival Sustainable Consultants, Chris Tuppen, BT, Mark Hope, Shell, David Cutteridge, BP, Douglas Patterson, Chief Executive, Aberdeen City Council, and Jan Bebbington, University of Aberdeen.
The proposal to run the conference grew out of collaborative work taking place between the three parties on how one may model sustainable development interactions of oil and gas developments. The resulting sustainability assessment model (SAM) is currently under development within BP and will also be presented at tomorrow’s conference.
Jan Bebbington, one of the organisers of the conference said the rationale for the meeting is to explore the implications of the sustainable development agenda for government, society and specifically for the oil and gas industry. “Discussions around the concept of sustainable development are often plagued by jargon and are sometimes inaccessible to those outside of academe or government. At the same time, it is clear that the sustainable development agenda will affect all businesses and industries and especially the oil and gas industry. As a result, the conference will outline the implications of the sustainable development agenda for government, society and specifically for the oil and gas industry.”
By attending this conference, delegates will enhance their understanding of the issues associated with sustainable development through hearing views and through discussions with recognised experts in the area. The conference is aimed at individuals:
- charged with sustainable development responsibilities in their organisations
- wishing to further their understanding of the sustainable development agenda
- responsible for environmental performance and who wish to understand how environmental responsibility and sustainable development fit together
- responsible for social performance and who wish to understand how social responsibility and sustainable development fit together
- responsible for strategic decision making within organisations
- who advise the oil and gas businesses in the above areas
This event will take place at the King’s College Conference Centre and costs £150 – however, any surplus made from the conference will be donated to charities supporting sustainable development initiatives.
As a result, this conference will have wide appeal to the industry. Anyone wishing to attend the conference, or requiring further information, should contact Jan Bebbington by email: j.bebbington@abdn.ac.uk
Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Aberdeen. Tel: 01224 272014 Fax: 01224 272086.
Further Information:
Angela Begg, University of Aberdeen Public Relations Office, Tel: 01224 272014.
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-273778 or email a.ramsay@admin.abdn.ac.uk.