Cumulative effects

Cumulative effects are changes to the environment caused by an activity in combination with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future human activities. Oil and natural gas development, along with forestry, mining, recreation, hunting and human settlements, may all contribute to cumulative effects.

Contributions to cumulative effects are a national issue for the upstream oil and natural gas industry. Governments and regulators are under increasing pressure to manage economic development to limit negative effects on the natural environment and protect people’s quality of life. Many jurisdictions see the assessment, monitoring and management of cumulative effects as key to achieving these goals.

The industry supports initiatives that seek to manage the cumulative effects of many diverse activities across the landscape. In areas of rapid industrial development, like Alberta’s Athabasca region, industry, government and other stakeholders have set up multi-stakeholder processes to address cumulative effects. In 2000, the upstream oil and gas industry helped found the Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA), a Fort McMurray-based organization that strives to advise on management of the long-term effects of industrial activity in the region. CEMA is composed of more than 40 groups including industry, governments, First Nations and environmental organizations.

Research and innovation

The upstream oil and gas industry plays an active role in co-sponsoring research aimed at improving environmental performance. In recent years, for example, industry-supported environmental research has helped companies with methods to:

• reduce flaring emissions
• control the losses of natural gas from upstream oil and gas facilities
• identify more cost-effective and successful land reclamation and remediation practices
• improve understanding of industry impacts on caribou and grizzly bears
• test the effectiveness of various practices in restoring wildlife habitat
• monitor the effects of seismic exploration on Atlantic fisheries
• improve reclamation of oil sands tailings ponds
• understand the effects of low-level hydrogen sulphide (part of sour gas) on human health

This work is based on independent peer-reviewed studies by research scientists in university, government and industry sectors.

The upstream oil and gas industry works with the academic community and governments through organizations such as the Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada, the Environmental Studies Research Fund, Environmental Research Advisory Council and the Canadian Oil Sands Network for Research and Development.