Environmental Degradation: Oil and Gas Industry's Role Analysis

This report investigates the critical issue of environmental degradation stemming from excessive oil and gas exploration, analyzing whether such actions constitute a crime against humanity. The study explores the impact of the oil and gas sector, particularly focusing on British Petroleum, on biodiversity and human life. It examines the potential for prosecution in international courts, considering the industry's role in increased product procurement and its contribution to environmental damage. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research utilizes qualitative data from interviews and observations, along with a review of existing literature, to assess the legal and financial aspects of environmental sustainability within the oil and gas sector. The report concludes with recommendations for oil industries to adopt new energy sources and highlights the need for increased awareness among service providers regarding their environmental responsibilities. The study also addresses the existence of international standards and laws applicable to the oil and gas sectors and explores potential remedies to mitigate environmental damages, ultimately assessing the international community's involvement in such reforms. The report is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue, from background and literature review to methodology, analysis, and conclusions, offering valuable insights into the complex relationship between the oil and gas industry and environmental degradation.

Should widespread environmental
degradation be prosecuted as a crime
against humanity?
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT
This exploratory research and study
aims to critically analyse and evaluate environmental degradation due to excessive oil
and gas exploration. The six research objectives are defined in a way that analyses the
role of oil and gas industries which causes threats to bio-diversity and life. Thus,
whether their actions are to be prosecuted in the International courts and whether their
actions have increased the procurement of these products and if so, due to that is it a
contributory factor to our environment being damaged?
For executing the study successfully well-defined research methods are
employed in the study. The ethnography in qualitative research is defined as the
observations or the documented data for generating the analysis of research subject.
The ethnography of this research will focus on the epistemological study within the
grounded paradigm by using the mixed research methodological approach. A
qualitative approach will be used to statistically analyse empirical data which is obtained
from the observation and response through a interview within a positive paradigm. The
inductive approach and exploratory design are used for qualitative analysis of the
collected data. For the collection of data, in the report primary data collection methods
(questionnaire)is used. In order to make the study more relevant nonprobability
sampling is used so that data validity can be enhanced.
It can be concluded from the study that there is an imperative high need to create
awareness among oil and gas service providers in order for them to understand their
role and responsibility towards the environment. Thus, upon the study findings, it is

recommended that oil industries must explore new sources of energy to enable them to
reduce the harmful impact on the environment due to excessive exploitation of energy
resources.
However, some authors do have different opinions on this topic, some claim over
exploration kills nature and others opine differ on that, they also state lack of legislation
and laws are the reasons for the harm caused. Effective research methodology is used
to conduct the research by using qualitative design, inductive approach, interpretive
philosophy, collection of data through secondary sources and analysing them in a
thematic presentation. The qualitative design involves the inclusion of theories and facts
instead of statistical analysis.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................8
1.1 Rationale for conducting study .............................................................................................8
1.2 Study background................................................................................................................10
1.3 Definition of key terms .......................................................................................................11
1.4 Aim .....................................................................................................................................12
1.5 Objective .............................................................................................................................12
1.6 Research question ...............................................................................................................12
1.7 Dissertation structure ..........................................................................................................13
1.8 Significance of the study .....................................................................................................14
1.9 Scope of the study ...............................................................................................................15
1.10 Company overview ...........................................................................................................16
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................17
2.1 Environmental degradation .................................................................................................17
2.2 Oil and gas sector and its impact on environment ..............................................................22
2.3 Demonstrating impact of environment degradation through case studies ..........................24
2.4 Legal and financial aspects of environmental sustainability within oil and gas sector ......26
2.5 Concept of sustainability .....................................................................................................30
2.6 Environment management system (EMS): a step towards sustainability ...........................32
CHAPTER 3- METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................35
3.1 Research methods ...............................................................................................................35
3.2 Data collection and analysis methods .................................................................................37
3.3 Critical evaluation of the research methods ........................................................................41
CHAPTER 4- ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS OF FINDINGS..............................................45
CHAPTER 5- CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................60
BIBLIOGRAPHY..........................................................................................................................65
APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................71

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Rationale for conducting study
With the increased growth in population there has been a continuous need of
resources available to each and every individual. Oil and gas service providers are
constantly making improvement in their operational aspects. The exploitation of
natural resources and negligence to the environment has increased and has had
an impact on greenhouse gases on earth. The direct implications of such impacts
are observed in the form of climate changes like sudden changes in the weather
which can be witnessed in various parts of the world.
The oil and gas sectors on the international level are engaged in mining and
exploration of natural resources mainly crude oils and petroleum products. This
sector is engaged I the procurement of finding natural gas and crude oil. The
effect on the environment are made harmful due to their acts, subsequently in
future this will increase and disturb the ecological balances of the planet as well as
the environmental cycle. This research project is based on the critical assessment
on the determination of international standards and laws that will be used against
oil and gas sectors to prosecute them in courts for the environmental damages
done by operating oil and gas organisations on international level. Furthermore,
why should O&G organisations be charged for criminal offences under
international laws and if provisions are made along with any findings, are there
remedies to curb the harmful effect on the environment?
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Since the environment cannot be restricted or defined within any single economy
or nation hazardous impact of environmental degradation are observed within the entire
world. All nations are affected by climate change and natural hazards which causes and
has caused threat to the lives of millions of people. Due to the adverse impact on
climate change most economies in the world are affected, due to natural disasters
subsequently, this goes beyond the control of human beings1. These destructive events
not only cause loss of property but also leads to several other critical issues such as life
threats to humans, animals as well as bio-diversity, loss of properties and the
destruction of entire colonies or islands.
Thus, it is very essential and imperative that the research is carried to ascertain
the harmful impact of environmental degradation furthermore to peruse the role of oil
and gas industries to evaluate them. The purpose of the study is to gain the attention
and awareness of people towards these issues and if there are any remedies necessary
for the betterment and suitable actions should be taken towards the protection of the
environment we live in, as our survival depends primarily on it. Along with human
survival it is also important that ecosystem and biodiversity is protected. Any single
disturbance in the food chain and ecosystem will make human survival impossible on
the earth2 hence, it is required to analyse the impact of oil industries on the environment
so that improvements in their practices can be suggested and implemented.
1
? J.B. Skjærseth and T., Skodvin. Climate change and the oil industry: Common problem,
varying strategies. 2018
2
? K. Lee et.al. The behaviour and environmental impacts of crude oil released into
aqueous environments. The Royal Society of Canada, Ottawa. 2015
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Issues that will be referred in the research project is the determination of laws,
standards and legislation that can be used against to sue the oil and gas companies on
a global level. This is due to the deterioration of other environmental and weather
conditions in the widespread operation of O&G sector3 . The issues will be addressed
by finding the remedies on how such effects of environmental damages can be
minimised and the actions taken to discourage the operations at a large level causing
the environmental damages and deterioration. The research project will be made with a
view to consider the fact that whether environmental damages caused by oil and gas
sectors is a criminal offense against mankind.
1.2 Study background
Environment conservation is one of most the important aspect to humans as it
leads to a less harmful planet and our healthy survival. However, with the increase and
growth in population, our dependence or needs for petroleum products like oil and gas,
natural resources such as water, land, air and soil are polluted. Consequently, the
environment is affected to its detriment. One can only ponder and ask questions about
the treatment of humanity as against the progress of development.4. Biodiversity is one
3 Environmental Management Systems (EMS). 2019. [Online]. Accessed through
<https://oilandgasukenvironmentallegislation.co.uk/contents/topic_files/onshore/
ems.htm>
4
? M.S. Alam, and S.R. Paramati. Do oil consumption and economic growth intensify
environmental degradation? Evidence from developing economies. Applied economics, 47(48), 2015,
pp.5186-5203.
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of the most important characteristics which distinguishes planet earth from all other
planets. All living beings have equal rights to live in a healthy and secure environment.
However, excessive exploitation of natural resources by petroleum industries
does not only cause harm to nature but also makes other living beings deprived of their
resources. For instance, land is polluted by disposal of oil waste and which then
becomes life threatening for marine population and other living organisms living in that
area. The agricultural land which gets polluted due to toxic substances affects the
employment and livelihood opportunities of the people living in the region. Thus, certain
organisations and individuals’ actions can consequently be considered as crimes
activities against humanity. The excessive exploitation of natural resources and
unsustainable development practices are making the survival of humans as well as
other living beings difficult. With the continuation of the environmental degradation
practices several issues have been identified. These adverse practices are making life
threatening impacts on people’s lives and appalling changes for the worse. Thus, it is
high time that individuals and all service providers must be made to understand the
needs of sustainable development before it’s too late further, in order for both the
survival of human and biodiversity protection5.
1.3 Definition of key terms
Environment degradation: It is defined as the decline in the quality of the environment
due to excessive exploitation of natural resources.
5
? V. Andreoni, and S. Galmarini. Drivers in CO2 emissions variation: A decomposition
analysis for 33 world countries. Energy, 103, 2016, pp.27-37.
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Sustainability: Sustainability is defined as an approach to establish a balance between
development strategies and environment stability so that the development does not
cause any harm to the environment or its survival.
1.4 Aim
“To examine how widespread environmental degradation can be prosecuted as a
crime against humanity a critical assessment of oil and gas sector: A case study on
British petroleum (BP).
1.5 Objective
 To understand the concept of environmental degradation.
 To analyse the impact of environmental degradation on humanity and its survival.
 To evaluate impact of oil and gas sector on the environment by analysing British
petroleum.
 To determine the international normative bases if any, could widespread
environmental damages and causes be prosecuted under international criminal
courts auspices against the oil and gas sector.
 To determine the outcome in the form of remedies to improve environment
damages; and
 To identify the evidence of true international community appetite to mobilize and
pursue reforms.
1.6 Research question
 How does the environmental degradation concept influence humanity? What is
the impact of the oil and gas industries on the environment?
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