Motivation
The realization that it is not possible to have infinite economic and population growth on a planet with finite natural resources has highlighted the fact that there is an urgent need for the creation of a new development model. This new model needs to be structured around the ideas encapsulated in the concept of Sustainable Development, namely development that satisfies the needs of the present day without compromising the possibility of future generations being able to meet their requirements (CMMDA, 1988).
Conscious of its role in contributing to the sustainable development of Brazil and the other countries in which it operates, Petrobras has reinforced its commitment to social and environmental responsibility by means of a broad spectrum of actions directed to the integration of these principles in all of its activities. Among these actions, the revision of its Strategic Plan in 2004 is worthy of mention as it stresses the incorporation of the concept of social and environmental responsibility to the mission and vision of the Company. It also extends this to all the countries in which it operates, while emphasizing the enhancement of its governance model with the creation of the Social and Environmental Responsibility Management Committee. These actions are clear proof of the determination to conduct our business by prioritizing fundamental values in the areas of human rights, the environment, labor relations, transparency and the fight against corruption, among others.
Although the need to ensure that the concept of sustainability is included in all of Petrobras activities, this commitment is of paramount importance in oil and gas exploration and production operations in the Amazon Region. This is especially true in view of the aspect of environmental sensitivity, the potential impacts arising from possible accidents and the growing awareness that the Amazon represents part of the natural heritage of humanity. It is also of central importance due to our international visibility and the importance of ensuring our reputation as a company equipped to operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner in ecosystems that are as complex as those that prevail in that region.
In view of the ecological and social importance of the Amazon Region, Petrobras has elaborated a series of Sustainability Directives with the participation of its Exploration and Production (E&P) business area and the Amazon Basin Business Unit (UN-AM). This has been done in conjunction with entities and personalities with acknowledged experience in the construction of an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable society - especially in the Amazon Region - with the objective of ensuring the participation of all interested parties in the definition of the main guiding principles of their activities in the region.
The directives include biodiversity protection, eco-efficiency of activities and operations, contingency control mechanisms and the social, economic and cultural interface of oil and gas exploration and production activities in the Amazon region. All of the latter must include the necessary logistical support, including air, land and river transportation, supplies and infrastructure.
In this manner, the themes and concepts prioritized in the participative elaboration process of the directives will provide the central guidelines for territorial occupation, processes, technology, scientific research and the management model proper, in order to enhance oil and gas exploration and production activities in the Amazon region.
Overall Objective
Establish directives to provide guidelines for all Petrobras exploration and production activities in the Amazon region, right through from the intermediary activities through to the final activity, always in accordance with sustainability principles (Elkington, 1997).
Specific Objectives
The elaboration of sustainability directives seeks to achieve the following objectives:
Optimize the consumption of natural resources;
Prevent and mitigate the impact on biodiversity in the different oil and gas exploration and production activities and operations in the Amazon region;
Enhance the management of pollutants and residues generated by activities and operations;
Enhance the management of the recuperation process of impacted areas;
Provide guidelines for the planning and execution of activities involving transport installations and systems;
Provide guidelines for the planning and execution of risk and contingency management activities in order to ensure prevention and effective action in the control of emergencies;
Optimize the impacts of exploration and production activities vis-à-vis the external public;
Improve the quality of life of the workforce;
Promote the preservation of the cultural heritage within the area of influence of E&P in the Amazon region;
Integrate Petrobras’ social and environmental responsibility activities in the region with the actions of the Exploration and Production Area in the Amazon region.
Benchmarks of Corporate Sustainability and Social and Environmental Responsibility
The directives proposed in this document were elaborated by the Work Group set up to prepare the Urucu Director Plan, using the following Petrobras benchmarks (1989; elaborated on the basis of Dourado et al., 1988), Miller et al. (2005), Elabore (2006) and Almeida (2006).
A guiding conceptual framework was defined for the elaboration of the directives based on the triple bottom line approach (Elkington, 1999). In addition to this, some of the leading international benchmarks on social and environmental responsibility and corporate sustainability were consulted. These include The Global Compact (ONU apud University of Cambridge, 2004), OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (OECD, 2000), Dow Jones Sustainability Group Indexes (DJSGI, 1999) and the Compendium of Sustainability Reporting Practices and Trends for the Oil and Gas Industry (API.IPIECA,2003).
The triple bottom line approach proposed by John Elkington in 1997 highlights two questions that are considered fundamental for actions geared towards sustainability, namely the integration of the three components of sustainable development – economic growth, social equity and environmental protection, as well as the integration of both short and long term aspects (Elkington apud Almeida, 2006).
Figure 1 represents the concept of sustainability in accordance with the triple bottom line approach, with its three dimensions (Elkington apud Almeida, 2006):
Figure 1 – Corporate sustainability in line with the Triple Bottom Line approach
Source: Elkington, J. apud Almeida, M. (2006)
For the elaboration of the directives presented in this document, the focus was directed towards the environmental and social dimensions located at the base of the sustainability pyramid, by virtue of the fact that the economic dimension has traditionally permeated the actions of the company.
Table 1 shows the relevant inputs of each one of the international benchmarks in the construction of the conceptual framework. Despite being pertinent, some of the themes considered in the benchmarks did not generate directives due to the fact that they involve practices and values that are already deeply rooted in the Petrobras culture.
Table 1 – Chart showing the contribution of international benchmarks in social and environmental responsibility and corporate sustainability.
Source: Adaptation by Almeida (2006).