How to approach the expectations of ESG investors is a critical question for midstream energy companies and will be the subject of a keynote presentation from SPL’s Dr. Andrew Parker at the upcoming 2022 GPA Midstream Convention.
“This is a conversation the oil and gas industry should not, and cannot, shy away from," Parker said. "But we also cannot let our message be hijacked by those who lack the expertise and credibility to effectively communicate our position. I hope the audience leaves my presentation with a deeper appreciation of the complexities surrounding climate change and the important role ESG programs can play in helping to reinvent the public perception of our industry.”
Parker is Executive Vice President of Hydrocarbons and Sustainability with SPL, a leading provider of testing, inspection, and certification services for the energy industry. He has a B.A. in Geology from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and he earned a Ph.D. in Oceanography at Texas A&M University, where he studied paleoclimates of the last glacial period.
“I wasn’t thinking about a career in the energy industry,” Parker said. “But during an internship with Shell, I learned about how companies in the industry were already committed to reducing emissions and being better stewards of the environment.”
Recognizing the alignment with his core values and professional ambitions, Parker moved from academia to the industry in 2015.
As chair of GPA Midstream’s GHG Measurement and Abatement Committee, as well as membership in American Petroleum Institute’s ESG Reporting Subcommittee, Parker is well-positioned to understand both the industry’s accomplishments, and the challenges it faces in the years ahead.
“The energy industry in the United States is the standard when it comes producing hydrocarbons in an environmentally friendly manner,” Parker said. “Now, we’re being asked to be better than that standard. As usual, we will rise to the challenge.”
“Climate change is quickly becoming the single most important consideration lawmakers are using to inform their policy decisions,” Parker said. “It’s critically important that as industry representatives we are equipped with the right information to address these concerns with our friends, family, elected officials and investors.”
During his keynote session, Parker will delve into what ESG investors want to see from energy companies, and how using the ESG lens can help companies effectively communicate what they’re doing to reduce emissions and increase efficiency and safety.
“I hope the audience leaves my presentation with a deeper appreciation of the complexities surrounding climate change and the important role ESG programs can play in helping reinvent the public perception of our industry,” Parker said.
The 2022 GPA Midstream Convention, the association’s premiere annual event, is set for Sept. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas. The convention schedule is stocked with leading executives and thinkers to educate and inspire attendees on topics including international affairs, legislative and regulatory issues, safety, market information, operations, technical sessions and research.
