API PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT
Building a Better Future Through Partnerships
Cooperative Partnerships Between the Oil and Natural Gas Industry and Environmental, Educational, and Community Groups
Reaching Outward Through Effective Partnerships
The petroleum industry has a long history of public-private partnerships aimed at finding cooperative solutions to environmental, educational and community issues. Developing cooperative public-private relationships to find lasting, sustainable solutions is part of a larger movement towards corporate social responsibility (CSR). Some industry partnerships have been in existence for more than seventy years. Others have been initiated more recently to address changing needs and emerging issues. This report illustrates cooperative, ongoing partnerships that API member companies have entered into in recent years. These partnerships are voluntary activities aimed at ensuring that oil and natural gas companies are an integral and contributing part of society and the communities in which the industry operates.
The examples of public-private partnerships provided here represent only a portion of what API member companies are doing to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.
To see main category examples, click on the links below:
Environmental Partnerships
Educational Partnerships
Community Partnerships
View by company
Trends In Building Constructive Relationships
The world is changing in many dramatic ways, and so is the oil and natural gas industry. With a rising world population, economic development – including the availability of clean, affordable energy – is needed to support the global desire for a better quality of life. At the same time, the burden on the environment is increasing to the extent that in various parts of the world, natural resources that always have been renewable – fresh water, clean air, soil, forests and fisheries – are losing their ability to regenerate and sustain growing local populations. Tensions arising from economic development and environmental conservation are major contributors to social pressures and conflicts. The explosion of global electronic communication heightens public awareness of these problems, calling for greater transparency and accountability of governments as well as business.
In response to these pressures, the oil and natural gas industry is placing greater emphasis on understanding the varied needs and expectations of the countries and communities in which it operates. This not only translates to conducting oil & gas activities in an economically, socially and environmentally responsive manner, but includes working together with stakeholder groups and affected parties to identify constructive solutions to shared problems.
Several emerging trends are influencing the nature of public-private partnerships.
Globalization
The world is becoming increasingly interconnected - economically, socially and environmentally – through technological developments. The availability of affordable, clean energy has been a fundamental driver of progress in the developed world and is becoming even more essential in helping developing countries achieve their economic, social and environmental aspirations. As the industry explores and operates in locations where extreme poverty and harsh working conditions exist, API member companies with global operations are working diligently in developing countries to create cooperative partnerships to better understand and address their unmet needs and goals.
License To Operate
The industry recognizes that it derives its license to operate from the public, and that companies and the industry need to work harder and more creatively to preserve that right to operate. Companies are demonstrating that they can be more than “good neighbors” by actively working with partners to protect the environment, support educational development and develop local capacity. These actions in turn help create a more stable and desirable environment in which communities may prosper and businesses may operate in a sustainable manner.
Social Investment
While most companies continue to provide funds and promote sponsorships through well-established philanthropic programs, companies are also becoming more engaged as active partners in addressing community needs and making true social investments. This represents an expanding dialogue and a deepening of involvement with stakeholders to ensure programs and activities are meaningful investments that can be tailored to the needs of the community and have long-lasting benefits.
Transparency
As the world becomes more globally interconnected, there is a rising expectation that business will become more accessible and transparent about its operational values, policies, practices and performance. In response, the industry is taking action to improve the quality, quantity and consistency in reporting its performance and progress in the areas of environmental and social stewardship. For example the API and IPIECA sponsored the development of the Compendium of Sustainability Reporting Practices and Trends for the Oil and Gas Industry to better understand and communicate the industry’s sustainability performance measurement and reporting practices. The initiative was based on a survey of the industry’s current reporting practices, trends, challenges and future needs.
Public Security
Recognizing the vital importance of a safe, reliable energy supply to our nation’s and the world’s prosperity, API member companies are actively working within the industry and with government agencies to increase the security of their operations and to prevent terrorist acts from interfering with the delivery of products that people depend upon daily to maintain their quality of life and peace of mind. From protecting plants and infrastructure to training with local emergency response teams, companies have long recognized and responded to the need to protect their workers, communities, and energy supplies through a variety of standards, procedures and guidelines. These efforts, in addition to serving as a protection for the general public, are also effective against acts of vandalism and terrorism.
Methodology
This site illustrates recent examples of public-private partnerships and organizes them into three categories of partnerships: environmental, educational and community partnerships. The partnerships range from programs involving major national organizations (e.g., the Smithsonian Institute) to forming foundations in partnership with educational institutions (e.g., National Science Teachers Association) to activities involving individual facilities working with local community groups and schools. Because this report is maintained on a website, participating companies have the opportunity to update and provide new partnership examples. No attempt has been made to make this report and website a comprehensive compendium of all partnerships in which the industry in presently involved.
More Information
Additional details on individual company partnerships may often be found either in the company’s corporate EHS or sustainability report, or on individual company websites.