Showing posts with label Federal Grants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal Grants. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Innovation in the Oil and Gas Industry-Joshua D. Mosshart




There are several innovation trends taking shape in the oil and gas industry to address sustainable energy opportunities and market development: 
  • The creation of the “new, fully optimized” digital oil field with more sophisticated information technology - using distributed sensors, high speed communication and data mining techniques to use real-time data to make better decisions and to get more barrels out of each asset. 
  • Energy efficient technologies to access and process hard to reach, lower quality, and new types of oil and gas. 
  • Development of alternative and advanced fuels and renewable energy generation technologies. 
These innovations can be combined to create high performing, efficient companies and help to expand the use of renewable and clean liquid transportation fuels and renewable energy generation. 

Three particular areas of importance are: cooperation with policy makers and regulators to develop national energy plans, increasing operational energy efficiency, and investing in new renewable fuels and renewable energy generation. 

The Business Opportunity Presented by Sustainable Energy for All 

In taking actions to advance the three objectives of Sustainable Energy for All, the extent of this unprecedented, rapid change will provide companies with new opportunities to drive sustainable business value in a manner that aligns to their core strategies. To seize these opportunities, there are four engagement modalities companies can address as they implement the identified priority actions: 
  1. Core Business - Operations: Businesses can transform their operations through increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy alternatives. 
  2. Core Business - Products and Services: Businesses can innovate and modify their core products and services to meet the new and developing market demands for 
  • Creating new business models 
  • Collaborating to develop new markets 
  • Developing new products and services 
  • Moving from products to services 
  • Improving energy efficiency 
  • Streamlining supply chain and logistics 
  • Reducing raw material consumption 
  • Changing operations to reuse waste to monitization
more energy efficient products, sustainable energy, and the infrastructure needed to extend energy access around the world. 
3. Social Investment and Philanthropy: Businesses can identify ways to establish a strategic link between social investments and their core strategies to increase the likelihood that such activities will be sustained and able to reach scale. 
4. Advocacy and Public Policy Engagement: Businesses can seek to engage governments (national, regional, or local) on relevant issues that protect competitiveness and drive opportunities, while working toward the objectives of Sustainable Energy for All. 
Sustainable Energy for All provides a platform to address global financial, social, and environmental concerns associated with energy. Ultimately, in working toward the achievement of the three objectives of the initiative—energy access, energy efficiency, and increased 
• Showcasing innovation
• Collaborating to increase transparency • Improving community involvement
• Engaging stakeholders 
• Contributing to policy agendas
• Protecting “License to Operate”
• Integrating risk management activities
• Diversifying business model and operations 
use of renewables—businesses also have significant opportunities to drive sustainable value. Especially important are four value levers related to revenue growth, cost reduction, brand enhancement, and risk management. 
Which Actions Will your Company Take to Drive Value? 
The particular actions a company chooses to drive business value depend on a range of factors: its unique attributes and energy characteristics; its business model, corporate strategy and consumer base; and external factors such as level of regulation and economic context. 

Sustainable Energy for All 

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact

Corporate sustainability starts with a company’s value system and a principled approach to doing business. This means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. 
Responsible businesses enact the same values and principles wherever they have a presence, and know that good practices in one area do not offset harm in another. 
By incorporating the Global Compact principles into strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, companies are not only upholding their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success. 

Human Rights

Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. 

Labour

Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. 

Environment

Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. 

Anti-Corruption

Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals & Best Practices-Joshua D. Mosshart


GOAL 1

End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Best Practice
Nicaraguan Network of Community Commerce - Red Nicaragüense de Comercio Comunitario (RENICC) The Nicaraguan Network of Community Commerce (RENICC) is a national network composed of 62 organizations that include cooperatives, networks of rural women and female entrepreneurs, consumer networks, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dedicated to agriculture and crafts activities. 
RENICC works to create political and economic lobbying opportunities to encourage the adoption of laws and alternative commercialization channels into public policy. The network alsocoordinates efforts in 18 farmers’ markets where more than 500 women currently sell their products directly to the public. 
The main areas of work for RENICC are social economy, food security, rural women’s access to land, free trade agreements, and theefficacy of development cooperation.
Partners: Cooperatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), rural women networks, female entrepreneur networks.

GOAL 2

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Best Practice
Local, Year-round Sustainable Agriculture is a start-up initiative dealing with proven technological advancements in sustainable agriculture for adoption into local communities worldwide. It focuses on renewable, low energy input / high output systems that are resilient to the effects of severe weather, pests, grid failure, and nuclear fallout. 
The initiative will result in local food safety and security, water quality improvement and conservation, zero toxic waste output, and high quality, nutrient-dense fresh fruits and vegetables. This initiative also proposes to provide, education on symbiotic relationships, research opportunities, employment, and education on the importance of biodiversity, ecology, sustainability, and connection to the earth.
Partners: Yhcrana Organics, CY-OP, Inc., Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, We Are The Villagers

GOAL 3

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Best Practice
The Voluntary Association of Agriculture, General Development, Health and Reconstruction Alliance (VAAGDHARA) will create and nurture vibrant partnerships with community institutions working on behalf of the poor in tribal regions of western India, with the aim of inculcating appropriate scientific and indigenous technology and knowledge to achieve sustainable livelihoods and realization of true childhood for their children.
In order to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030, VAAGDHARA has a strategy to promote and nurture vibrant institutions working on behalf of the poor such as self-help groups (SHG), SHG federations, farmer producer organizations, etc., who will be sensitive towards child development and can also work on livelihood, education, health, and nutrition. These institutions will be the key for the sustainability of interventions. 
VAAGDHARA will play the role of a catalyst and facilitator for institutions and networks of communities in remote and resource fragile regions so they start their journey towards sustainable development.
Partners: VAAGDHARA, community-based organizations, federations.

GOAL 4

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Best Practice
Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) Despite the urgent need for investments in education and their clear returns, progress on education has stalled in recent years.
The cost of leaving millions of children and young people on the margins of society is far greater than the funds required to jump-start efforts to reach international goals for education, which had shown considerable promise. 
The Education First initiative aims to accelerate progress towards the Education for All goals and the education-related Millennium Development Goals by: 1) Rallying together a broad spectrum of actors for the final push to 2015; 2) Putting quality, relevant and transformative education at the heart of the social, political and development agendas; and 3) Generating additional and sufficient funding for education through sustained global advocacy efforts global movement for education - by 2015 and beyond.
Partners: Partners include UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, UN Special Envoy for Global Education, World Bank, Global Partnership for Education, Educate A Child, Education International, Global Campaign for Education as well as philanthropic and business institutions.

GOAL 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Best Practice
The GIRLS! Project utilizes a public health approach to early grade literacy as a tool to reduce the social determinants of health such as poverty, education and health inequities, and gender discrimination. GIRLS! Project provides new books that meet common core standards to girls in targeted age ranges from birth to third grade/class three.
The GIRLS! Project approach improves core foundational skills in the four areas of the English language (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), Braille books and materials are provided for visually impaired girls. 
Guided reading workshops and “15 Minutes Read Aloud Moments” are conducted to improve comprehension and oral reading fluency (ORF) in third grade/class three. Group reading instruction provides differentiated teaching that supports early grade reading proficiency. The GIRLS! Project approach promotes differentiated instruction to allow girls to focus on their specific needs and accelerate their progress.
Partners: Schools Without Borders, Inc.

GOAL 6

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Best Practice
The establishment of a Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform is a prerequisite to the development of sustainable policies for integrated water resources management and climate change adaptation. The platform aims to provide a common basis for the development of national water information systems in four pilot countries, and to deliver an assessment of water resources management and use (i.e., drafting of a white paper) by collecting and exploiting data of these systems. 
It will allow for an evaluation of best practices, joint management of transboundary resources, and follow-up on regional or sub-regional projects and policies in the Mediterranean region, all on a voluntary basis.
Partners: International Office for Water, Institut Méditerranéen de l’Eau, Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System (EMWIS), Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations, United Nations Environmental Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP), Arab League Center for Water, Ministry of Water and Irrigation (Jordan), Ministry of Energy and Water (Lebanon), Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment (Morocco), Ministry of Agriculture and water resources (Tunisia).

GOAL 7

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Best Practice
Solar Empowered Schools is an initiative that uses sustainable energy to improve academic performance in primary and secondary rural schools in Africa by providing students who lack access to electricity with solar lanterns so that they can extend their study time.
Solar Empowered School (SES) identifies schools located in rural communities around Africa that are hindered by availability of artificial lighting. SES then distributes solar lanterns to students, and trains them on how to improve their academic performanceand on how to maintain the lanterns given to them. 
Training on improving study habits is held in the communities where the lanterns are distributed, and it teaches children how to improve their academic performance by reading extra hours in the evening. SES harnesses the “mentor-your-junior” model to facilitate learning from the community’s brightest student to ensure the rest are well brought up.
Partners: Africa Sustainable Energy Association, Nigeria Alternative energy Consortium, Southern Africa Alternative Energy Association.

GOAL 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Best Practice
Bridge Initiative for Youth Employment
The Bridge Initiative envisions a world where all youth are active participants of the social and economic development through relevant education and decent work. To achieve this, the initiative will focus on Sub-Saharan African countries, starting with the Democratic Republic of Congo, by conducting research projects on the skills, education and opportunity gaps dividing youth from the job market. 
Evidence-based interventions will then be implemented in the form of training and education opportunities, skills development on workplace behaviours and entrepreneurship, and volunteer and internships placements with partner organizations in order to increase youth employability.
Partners: Young African Leaders Initiative, Congo Leadership Initiative, United States Department of State, SNV (Netherlands Development Organization, DRC), United Nations Volunteers, Clinton Global Initiative.

GOAL 9

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Best Practice
CIFAL Global Network: Supporting Local Actors to Achieve Sustainable Development
The United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) is the UN training arm for social and economic development, environmental services and multilateral diplomacy. The Global Network of International Training Centres for Local Actors (CIFAL) are hubs for capacity building and knowledge sharing between government authorities, international organisations, the private sector and civil society. UNITAR and its affiliated global network, CIFAL, organise around 400 training activities yearly, reaching out to some 25,000 beneficiaries.
For its local development work, CIFALs use the knowledge management methodology that consists of various processes of self-assessment, distillation and transmission of experiences and good practices in order to improve the performance of an organization. It also includes several tools that provide a common language for the evaluation, exchange, and adaptation of the experiences shared by participating cities, as well as a roadmap for action and progress. 
The process aims at optimizing peer learning between local government officials and key stakeholders. Participants share knowledge, experiences, good practice and lessons learned, in order to build a strategic action plan integrating international conventions into local development programmes.
Partners: United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR), Federation of Industries of the State of Parana (Brazil), Airport Group of the South of Mexico (ASUR), International Peace Foundation (ROK), Kuala Lumpur City Hall Training Institute (Malaysia), Regional Cooperation Office for City Informatization (China), Moray Council (Scotland), Municipality of Plock (Poland), City of Antwerp (Belgium), Municipality of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), E-thekwini Municipality (South Africa), Decentralized Government of the Province of Pichincha (Ecuador), Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities (Algeria), Vice presidency of the Republic of El Salvador, Kennesaw State University (USA).

GOAL 10

Reduce inequality within and among countries.

Best Practice
The goal of this initiative is to strengthen capacities of citizen groups and government to work together in order to enhance quality of public services delivered to citizens. It seeks to give voice to the needs and concerns of all citizens on the deliveryand quality of public services. Africa Youth Movement (AYM) will facilitate the implementation, guidance and supervision by a steering committee formed of representatives of citizens,government, and civil society. 
AYM will be responsible for the coordination and provision of capacity development, training, technical guidance and support to partners to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the initiative.
Partners: APRM, IGAD, AU, youth organizations, youth clubs, Civic organizations, youth networks, UNDP, Africa Governance Initiative, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, UN Youth, governments Sector Ministries, Network of Social Accountability Associations, Global partnership for Social Accountability, World Bank, DFID, African youth, universities, research institutes, politicians, elected councils.

GOAL 11

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Best Practice
Upgrading the Slums in Abuja, Nigeria
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Nigeria has stated that about 80 million Nigerians, representing 79 per cent of the population, are living in slums.
The growth of informal settlements around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has largely been as a result of inadequate and non-affordable housing. The challenge of securing land tenure for the teeming populace, the high cost of building materials, inaccessible mortgage mechanisms for the poor as well as the high rents of urban accommodation has been responsible for many of the city’s suburban slums. 
This partnership aims to support the development of human settlements around Abuja by transforming slums and unhealthy environments through collaboration. There is adequate arrangement for transfer of capacity and technology by involving slum dwellers actively in all stages of the project. 
Initiative for the Support and Promotion of Human Shelter (ISPHS) is also creating a link between slum dwellers and civil authorities as well as relevant stakeholders, for proper engagement.
Partners: Initiative for the Support and Promotion of Human Shelter (ISPHS), Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Shack and Slum Dwellers Association, Nigeria, Gwagwalada Concern Youth Forum, Lugbe Community Development.

GOAL 12

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Best Practice
The sustainability literacy test (SULITEST) is an online multiple choice question assessment that evaluates, in 30 minutes, the minimum level of knowledge in economic, social and environmental responsibility, applicable all over the world, in any kind of higher education institution (HEI), in any country, for students from any kind of tertiary-level course (bachelors, masters, MBAs, PhD).
All of the questions in this assessment will ensure that future graduates have basic knowledge on sus-tainable development and both individual and organisational sustainability and responsibility. For this purpose, the scope of this assessment covers 2 types of question:
1) Questions on challenges facing society and the planet i.e. general knowledge on social, environmental and economic issues, basic understanding of the earth e.g. water and carbon cycles, greenhouse effect, etc.
2) Questions on an organisation’s responsibility in general and on corporate responsibility in particular i.e. questions on practices for integrating social responsibility throughout an organisation, and questions on the responsibility of individuals as employees and citizens.
Partners: Senior Advisors: UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP, UN DESA, UN PRME, ULSF, CEEMAN, MEDIES, GRLI, ARIUSA, AMFORHT, HEASC, WFCP, GUPES, IDDRI, IAU, Copernicus alliance; Regional-National Expert Committee: RAUSA, ACTS, PRME Chapter Brazil, CGUN, Red Campus Sustentable, RCFA, REDIES, RAUDO, PRME national Chapter for Middle East and North Africa, CGE, CPU, REFEDD, CIRSES, HKSCC, APSCC, CAS-Net JAPAN, CRUI,INAECU, PRME national Chapter UK & Ireland, EAUC, AASHE, DANS; Partners Council: ONET, LVMH, CGE, Kedge, University of Paris Seine, Grenoble Ecole. de Management, EAUC, PRME national Chapter UK & Ireland, University of Gothenburg, Des Enjeux et des Hommes.

GOAL 13

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*

Best Practice
Paris Pact on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Basins of Rivers, Lakes, and Aquifers 
The purpose of this “Paris Pact” is to provide recommendations of actions that should be undertaken without delay at the most relevant scale for water management adaptation to climate change – i.e., the basins of lakes, rivers, and aquifers. The Pact also calls for actions of basin organizations and other relevant institutions (e.g., governments, international organizations, donors, local authorities, civil society and companies). Such actions will contribute to reach target 6.4 to 6.b of the SDGs.
The “Paris Pact” synthesizes the already existing solid knowledge base on adaptation for climate change in basins, and in particular:
• A platform of experience sharing between pilot projects on climate change adaptation in transboundary basins
• A book collecting examples of experiences and good practices for climate change adaptation in transboundary basins (both developed by the International Office for Water and its partners - UNECE among others).
Partners: International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) with the support of its regional com-ponents (ANBO, LANBO, CEENBO, MENBO, EURO-INBO, NANBO, EECCA-NBO, and other core partners, including UNECE, the World Bank and UNESCO.

GOAL 14

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Best Practices
Our Oceans Challenge
The Our Oceans Challenge (OOC) partner network consists of influential companies committed to generating innovative business models that promote clean and healthy oceans, not only by providing financial support but by sharing expertise and know-how with entrepreneurs and start-ups.
OOCC provides an online co-creation platform for entrepreneurs, offshore experts, scientists and those who care for the oceans to share and enrich ideas for a clean and healthy ocean.
After a selection made by our partners, OOC provides the means to realize these ideas by connecting entrepreneurs and start-ups with corporations their financial resources and expertise, thus shortening the time to market of ocean ventures while tackling some of our most pressing environmental and social challenges.
Partners: Heerema Marine Contractors, Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), KPMG, Outside, Inc., Willteco, Innovation Factory, NIBC Direct, VU University Amsterdam, World Ocean Council, Jules Dock.

GOAL 15

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Best Practice
Ibis Rice Initiative
Ibis Rice was launched in 2009 to promote and market wildlife- friendly rice grown in the communities located in areas protected for their biodiversity value in Cambodia. Its work links wildlife conservation to improving livelihoods of villagers whose opportunities are limited by the constraints of living in a remote area with little opportunity to expand their farms and limited market access. 
Ibis Rice buys paddy at a premium from village marketing networks, whose members are made up of farmers who are often not food secure and rely on forest resources for income. Ibis Rice has worked to market wildlife-friendly produce that is produced by local communities in the Northern Plains.
Target buyers include domestic tourist hotels and restaurants, food retailers and potentially, international markets.
Partners: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Sansom Mlup Prey , Accounting for International Development (AfID) , Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network.

GOAL 16

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Best Practice
National Coordination on the Implementation of SDGs (NACOS INITIATIVE)
The NACOS initiative seeks to ensure that there is a coherent, coordinated, and all-inclusive participatory approach to the effective localization, implementation, and coordination of the Agenda 2030. It is through such initiatives that the agenda will be effectively realized.
The first stage of the initiative has been the setting of the stage for implementation by the “Beyond 2015 Campaign”, which has for three years built momentum for implementation by engaging all relevant stakeholders, especially those most affected by poverty in awareness building and participation. 
In Zimbabwe this step has been concluded through the successful establishment of the Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe National Hub, the building of public-private partnerships, and the launching of the NATIONAL COORDINATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SDGs (NACOS).
The final step of the first phase has been the formation of partnership frameworks leading to the development of a concept paper and a full project proposal with a comprehensive implementation and action plan. This last step has been carried out but the process of scoping and creating new partnerships
is an ongoing process that will take place throughout the life of the project. This step will be concluded by a launch meeting for continued work for the implementation period of 2016 – 2030 after the 70th session of the United Nations’ General Assembly.
Partners: Save Matabeleland Coalition, Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe, Regional Centre for Social Responsibility (RCSR), Footnote Consultancy, Stop to Start International, Habakkuk Trust.

GOAL 17

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Best Practice
The Global Partnership for Sustainable Data is global network of governments, NGOs and businesses working together to strengthen the inclusivity, trust and innovation in the way that data is used to address the world’s sustainable development efforts. It works to bring the resources of national govern-on the world’s development data poverty.
Official statistical systems are the building block for understanding poverty and how to address it. The global partnership seeks to map data gaps at a national level, the channel funding to strengthen those systems. 
Thus, the partnership aims to bring the best data, analytical skills and ideas to solve data problems - from using satellites capture to monitor agriculture efforts, to citizen engagement tools to understand sanitation requirements in villages in remote parts of the world. 
It works to ensure thatgovernments are given the tools they need to ensure they leave no-one behind in these development efforts.
Partners: Global network of governments, NGOs and businesses working together.
Cleantech Grants Mission is to facilitate grant funding for innovative clean technologies that enable solutions for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 
Through public, private, partnerships we license transfer this knowledge to aid in the United Nations efforts. 
Our goal is economic empowerment for the " Bottom of the Pyramid" and support basic human rights for all! 

Source: United Nations