Recognising a need for the industry to have a focused platform at which it could address the petroleum industry’s leadership in responsible operations, international cooperation and sustainable solutions and to give sustainable development a higher priority, the World Petroleum Council decided to launch a new initiative. In May 2015 the World Petroleum Council hosted the inaugural WPC Leadership Conference on Responsibility, Cooperation and Sustainability in Troms?, at the top of the Norwegian Arctic.

It brought together industry leaders from around the world to discuss and demonstrate best available technology and practices in order to minimize impacts and risks to the people and environments around the world where the industry operates.

Good leadership, high standards and ethical business practices are required to ensure the sustainable supply and efficient use of the world’s oil and gas resources for the benefit of all.  By highlighting some of the most challenging environments, such as the Arctic and unconventional operations, over 60 speakers endeavoured to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions through responsible actions and close cooperation with all stakeholders. Industry leaders and senior decision makers shared technological innovations and business strategies to responsibly address the challenges of developing new frontiers and making them sustainable from a business, environmental and a societal perspective. By sharing best practices and innovative solutions with the participants from the oil and gas sector and its stakeholders WPC aimed to help raise standards across the sector.

The event addressed ways to reduce carbon emissions and their impact on climate change, Arctic challenges, technologies for new frontiers, including sustainable development of unconventional oil and gas, water management, a shared value approach to local community engagement and international cooperation to develop common standards, regulations and laws in order to ensure safe, secure and efficient operations while protecting the environment.

Troms?’s pristine landscape near the Arctic Circle was a perfect reflection of places where the industry performs some of its most innovative operations and helped to showcase its efforts to be an outstanding steward of the environment and natural resources in the north.