nairobi & abidjan convention cops johannesburg, south africa 5-8 november 2007

Nairobi & Abidjan Convention COPsJohannesburg, South Africa

5-8 November 2007

People, Petrol, & the Sea Challenges, Opportunities &

Tools

Paul Siegel, Ph.DMarine Conservation Advisor

psiegel@wwfsenegal.org

Coastal Industries: Hydrocarbons, Fisheries & Tourism

Hydrocarbons: potentially important revenues and energy over the short term which are non-renewable;

Fisheries & Tourism: consistent and renewable revenues over the long term

Social and environmental synergies

Environmental Risks

Exploration & Production • Seismic studies

• Infrastructure

• Drilling muds and Produced water

• Blowouts

• Storage : FPSO (single or double hulled)

Transportation• Tank washing (pollution + invasive species)

• Collisions

• Groundings

• Leaks

Potential Socio-economic Impacts

• Reduced food security

• Increased poverty

• Social destabilization

• Nationally

• Internationally

• Wasted economic resources

Meeting the challenges

• Oil and gas development and transportation already present challenges to both East and West African Coastal States and are on the rise.

• To plan effectively, decision makers need information and time. Information is available. Time is short.

Strategic options (Better proactive than reactive…)

• Strategic environmental assessments (inter-ministerial, national / regional)

• Spatial planning (zoning)

• Best technologies and practices

• Independent Social/Environmental impact studies (project level)

• EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative)

Strategic options (cont)

• PSSA (Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas): An opportunity for regional collaboration for managing marine transport ;

• International Conventions (e.g. MARPOL, Nairobi Convention, Abidjan Convention)

• Dialogue and Consultation between Ministries, at national and regional levels

• Draw up a regional regulatory framework (within the Conventions?)

The Bottom line• Short-term: Ensure that existing and planned operations avoid

impact on the areas of greatest importance for biodiversity, fisheries, and tourism, and minimise impacts on all other areas.

• Medium-term: Use oil and gas development as a means to finance a transition from oil to renewables and to support social and environmental initiatives.

• Longer-term: Recognising that oil and gas are non-renewable resources, invest revenues in economic diversification activities and to provide sustainable funding for developmental and social priorities (trust funds?).

Key Questions

1. How can we maximize the benefits and reduce the negative impact of oil and gas development on the marine environment and the people who depend upon it?

2. How can the Conventions and their COPs make a difference? Consider recommending that the Conventions• Catalyse regional planning (SEAs, PSSA, etc. (linked

to LMEs?))• Promote the harmonization of legislation • Strengthen East/West African collaboration