Analysis of Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Oil and Gas Companies in the UK Research Paper

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Introduction

Reducing the carbon footprint of oil and gas companies in the UK has been one of the major objectives of the UK Energy Research Centre (Brand et al., 2020; Tennison et al., 2021; Janson et al., 2020). The topic combines elements of technology and globalization within the oil and gas sector since sustainable use of resources has become an increasing concern on a global scale (Ghazouani et al., 2020; Jäckle, 2019). The strategic value of this topic to organizations is that it enables research and innovation for the benefit of the entire UK oil and gas industry.

Background

The challenge of CO2 emissions is exacerbated by the growing concerns over global warming and climate change (Safari et al., 2018; Shahbaz et al., 2020). Oil and gas companies are prone to various risks in terms of environmental impacts due to the extraction of oil and gas reserves, which include land-use changes and pollution (Sadeghi, Ghandehariun and Rosen, 2020; Bousema et al., 2020; Dixon et al., 2020). Oil and gas companies cause about 42% of the UK’s carbon emissions within its borders (Chenic et al., 2022; Siddi, 2020; Malik et al., 2018). It has brought about growing concern over climate change and global warming issues. Several challenges result from this issue, such as the UK’s largest carbon emitter in the oil and gas industry (Murshed et al., 2022; Ahmed Ali, Ahmad, and Yusup, 2020; (Bayer & Aklin, 2020; Bag & Pretorius, 2020). Secondly, there is a lack of measurement systems and reduction processes to determine the carbon footprint of the industry; this is due to various factors, such as inadequate data collection by the industry (Bayer & Aklin, 2020; Bag & Pretorius, 2020). It has influenced how quickly an individual organization or industry can reduce its carbon footprint.

Rationale

The significance of this research is that it will help to reduce the carbon footprint of oil and gas companies in the UK. Resulting from reduced CO2 emissions in the UK, oil and gas companies will be forced to transfer more of their financial resources to the government (Lacoste et al., 2019; Solaymani, 2019; Pickl, 2019). Since companies may lose opportunities to profit from the emission-trading scheme, a new form of taxation (Gillingham & Stock, 2018; Bai et al., 2020; (Roberts et al., 2018; Charlesworth, Stewart, and Sainsbury, 2018). For industrial benefit, the research will identify ways to reduce emissions and hence the overall carbon footprint within the industry (Patterson et al., 2021; Mardani et al., 2019: Nash & Steurer, 2019). For personal benefit, this research will assist in my career progression by highlighting areas for technological development and clarifying my future research interests (Requia et al., 2018; Shindell et al., 2018; Yang and Usman, 2021). It will assist me in acquiring knowledge on ways to reduce carbon footprint emissions. For educational benefit, this research allows researchers to identify areas that need improvement within the industry and assist in reducing emissions faster (Roberts et al., 2018; Charlesworth, Stewart, and Sainsbury, 2018).

Scope

The general purposes of the study are to determine the impact of the carbon footprint on the environment and ways companies can measure carbon footprints. The research will also identify best practices for reducing carbon emissions. The samples that will be studied are oil and gas companies located in the UK.

Aims and Objectives

This research aims to create awareness for companies to understand the need to reduce carbon emissions. Research objectives include:

  1. To determine the technologies used to reduce carbon footprints for oil and gas companies in the UK.
  2. To determine how oil and gas companies measure their carbon footprint and what methods they use to achieve their goal of reducing carbon emissions.

Influential Theories

The key areas to cover in the final report include carbon footprint management technology, footprint quantification/measurement techniques, and organizational-level carbon emission reduction methods in the UK seen through the prism of organizational, sustainable development, and environmental management theories (Small, Owen and Paavola, 2022; Peng and Deng, 2021). The first component of the framework, organizational theory, posits that organizational entities’ decision-making and performance, including environmental-focused one, is predicted by organizational structures’ characteristics and oversight processes (Hatch, 2018; Paais and Pattiruhu, 2020; Sartipi, 2020; Zhang et al., 2019). The sustainable development theory posits that technological/economic development should incorporate consideration for future generations’ potential environmental challenges, the habitat’s long-term stability, and preserving natural capital, such as high-quality air; importantly, honest reporting and harm measurement solidify competitive advantage (Arsawan et al., 2020; Kantabutra, 2020; Peng and Deng, 2021). The environmental management approach posits that businesses’ core strategies should incorporate product/manufacturing-focused transformations to achieve environmental sustainability at the organizational level (Arsawan et al., 2020; Dhar et al., 2022; Kantabutra, 2020; Nielsen et al., 2019; Prieto-Sandoval et al., 2019; Reed et al., 2018). As shown in Figure 1, the theories underpin both objectives above by positing the need for technology-mediated natural resource preservation, environmental harm reduction, and ecological impact measurement.

Theoretical framework
Figure 1: Theoretical framework

Integration with the Oil and Gas MBA

Integration with the oil and gas MBA has increased the oil and gas major capabilities in managing change. To address sustainability issues within the oil and gas industry, organizations must develop more efficient methods to achieve their sustainability targets and reduce their carbon footprint.

Method of Analysis

The analytical framework used in this research is a systematic review. A systematic review is defined as selecting, reviewing, and forming the findings using systematic procedures, be it qualitative or quantitative methods (Newman & Gough, 2020; Cooper et al., 2018). The method was selected because it helps determine the overall impact of oil and gas companies in the UK on climate change.

Step 1: The scope of the study: the researcher will start with a literature review of previous studies on this topic to look at and develop the methods, methods of analysis, and related factors that can influence the research outcome and then proceed by collecting data by reviewing studies based on the same topic.

Step 2: The search process will focus on developing strategies that can be used in measurement and reduction processes and introducing new technologies to ensure reduction occurs faster.

Step3: Quality appraisal; the research will support decision-making regarding environmental issues that significantly impact climate change. The qualitative thematic analysis explores the themes, patterns, and topics in qualitative research and looks at how they can be grouped to form a category (Lochmiller, 2021).

Step 4: A preliminary list of sources includes Onat & Kucukvar, 2020; Lenzen et al., 2020; Abbasi et al., 2021; Griffin, Hammond & Norman, 2018; Adedoyin & Zakari, 2020; Ahmad & Zhang, 2020; Lin & Jia 2018; Usman & Radulescu, 2022; Erdoğan et al., 2020; Li et al., 2020; Ashraf, 2022, and Nassani, Aldakhil & Zaman, 2021.

Step 5: Analysis: The study will provide an overview of the carbon footprint of oil and gas companies in the UK, measurement systems, and reduction processes to determine the industry’s carbon footprint.

Step 6: Conclusion: It will also provide information on how relevant technologies can be used to reduce carbon footprint by identifying their impact on reducing carbon footprint within the industry.

Evidence and Data

O1: Reviewing the scope of technological solutions for CO2 emission reduction available to UK-based companies in the oil and gas sector is an urgent research-related objective, which is evident from the issue’s size. Ben Jebli, Ben Youssef, and Apergis (2019) and Agozie et al. (2022) emphasize that the UK’s carbon emissions are mainly produced by the transportation industry, whereas Caineng et al. (2021), Gyamfi et al. (2021), Bekun et al. (2019), and Keith et al. (2021) highlight the oil and gas sector’s particular contributions to the UK’s total CO2 emissions. A 2022 Greenpeace UK report also problematizes emissions from oil and gas operations and assesses the industry’s carbon dioxide emission intensity to have experienced a 15% increase in 2021, reaching 23 kilograms of CO2 per barrel of oil equivalent (Boren, 2022). From the government’s estimates, addressing the crisis requires reducing GHG emissions, including CO2, by at least 34% (Sovacool et al., 2021; Filipović, Lior and Radovanović, 2022).

O2: Addressing the problem above requires in-depth research into carbon footprint measurement techniques and emission reduction methods for the sector. Based on research, some footprint quantification/measurement frameworks incorporate life cycle analysis and emission factors (Clabeaux et al., 2020; Mohsin et al., 2019). There are various measurements, including the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) standards (Keith et al., 2019; Sylla et al., 2021; Hunt et al., 2022). As opposed to less specific footprint reduction opinions, Hunt et al. (2022), Boren (2022), Behun et al. (2019), and Keith et al. (2021) mention that entities in the oil and gas sector have to consider incorporating novel analytical areas and reduction approaches, including biofuels, renewable power generation, and flaring policies, to address the 34% emission reduction suggestion.

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