Promotional image for the EO-hosted film and discussion event at Impact Hub Oakland on February 26, featuring Hugo Lucitante's grandfather studying an open pit of crude oil in the Amazon rainforest.
There are many different approaches that can be taken to reduce the negative social and environmental impacts of irresponsible oil and gas development in the Amazon and around the world, and combining them all is the best way to achieve positive results.
Last month, EO President David Poritz, and Director of Communications Josh Garrett traveled to Phoenix Arizona to attend the 2015 GreenBizForum. The three-day annual conference serves as a platform for various stakeholders within a wide array of industries to explore progress and developments in corporate sustainability and responsibility.
EO has gained recognition as a positive influence on business in Colombia, in the form of certification under the country’s national brand, Marca Pais. Given that Colombia’s oil productions now exceeds 1 million barrels per day, an amount that has steadily increased since 2008, it is vital that steps be taken to ensure industry-wide social and environmental responsibility.
Earlier this month, EO officially joined the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) as an affiliate member. ICCR is an alliance of faith-based and social value-driven groups that use investment management as a means of influencing positive change.
As more oil and gas companies seek to certify their sites under the EO100™ Standard, they will require increasing guidance to implement the operational changes necessary to achieve certification. To facilitate this consultation assistance, EO maintains a roster of Qualified Implementation Consultants.
On February 5th, The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) held a workshop on human rights due diligence in the oil and gas sector. The IHRB is a self-described “think and do tank” that strives to provide expertise in relationship building between international human rights standards and businesses.
In December, EO received a letter of complaint from the U.S.-based labor organization AFL CIO. Submission of the complaint, which alleged improper labor practices by certified site operator Pacific Rubiales Energy (PRE), initiated an internal review, performed in accordance with EO Procedures for Certification System Comments, Complaints, and Appeals.
From January 13th to 15th, Equitable Origin convened a meeting in Ecuador’s coastal province of Esmeraldas with leaders and representatives of a number of indigenous groups in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The purpose of the meeting was to consult with indigenous groups of the region on the EO100™ Standard, collect input on the impacts of oil and gas industry activity in the region, and discuss the effects of low oil prices on the responsible production practices.
Anyone who drives a car has noticed by now that gas prices have dropped dramatically in the last several months, a result of falling global oil prices. But, while that is good for our wallets, it may not be good for the communities and ecosystems surrounding oil developments worldwide.
Equitable Origin’s EO100™ Standard for responsible oil and gas development will be a touchstone for discussions on energy development practices between Mexican and Canadian trade representatives this year, according to an official document.
The two nations’ shared energy interests was an area of focus at the September 2014 meeting of the Canada-Mexico Partnership’s Trade Investment and Innovation (TII) Working Group in Calgary, Canada.