Earth Day this year, 22 April, marks 50 years of raising global awareness for the challenges faced by the planet and the life it supports. The first Earth Day in 1970 was focused on environmental protection efforts in the US and led to the passing of the US Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts, as well as the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2016, Earth Day marked the signing of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement.
With growing concerns about the health of the planet, this year, Earth Day focuses on the challenges and opportunities related to climate change.
IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for advancing environmental and social performance, has been addressing climate issues for more than 30 years, engaging with UN bodies including the UNFCCC, UN Economic Commission for Europe, and the UN Development Program. IPIECA supports the goals of the Paris Agreement and has produced a suite of guidance and briefing documents exploring the technologies and actions that can help achieve the transition to a lower carbon world.
Recently, IPIECA launched an awareness briefing on Exploring Low-Emissions Pathways for Transport that analyzes the broad range of technologies that will be necessary to allow the evolution of the transport sector. The association also launched a fact sheet on Making the Case for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) that explores the scale-up and widespread deployment of CCS. IPIECA also held a workshop for industry and a wide range of stakeholders to explore how nature and technology can help raise ambition and greenhouse gas mitigation with a focus on the cobenefits that arise to biodiversity and local communities in well-planned projects.
Through its Climate Change Group, IPIECA members are continuing to work together on topics including issues around reducing flaring and methane emissions, climate-related disclosures, nature-based solutions, CCS, and exploring the role of hydrogen as an enabler of the energy transition.
Climate change remains the greatest challenge to conserving the Earth’s ecosystems and will require action from all parts of society to lessen its impact on the planet. IPIECA members can play a key role in contributing to climate action whilst meeting the world’s energy needs.