ERGF’s Mission Supports UN Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations (UN) has set forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that member countries are encouraged to adopt. A complete list of the 17 SDGs and background on the UN program can be found on their website.
Of these 17 SDGs, our mission relates to 7 Goals, either wholly or partly. Below is a highlight of these Goals and how our programs relate to them.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Our Programs encourage environmentally responsible production of oil and gas, which means a focus on reducing emissions and preventing ground contamination. Clean air, clean groundwater, and clean surface water are vital to our health. And while it is vital that the air and water that we consume is clean and safe, it is also vital that the air and/or water that our livestock and crops rely on is also clean.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Similar to SDG 3 relating to overall good health and well-being, Clean Water is arguably the most important component of a healthy life. It is of primary importance that humans, animals, and plants all have clean water available. Our Programs directly related to this Goal, as we seek to monitor for signs of water contamination and educate on the dangers of contamination. Even one oil and gas well has the potential to cause a large affect on nearby surface and groundwater.
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Our Programs partly relate to this Goal. While our focus is not on affordable energy (though we do support this goal), our resources are directed towards Clean Energy. We believe that solar and wind energy can supplement our oil and gas demands, but may never keep pace. We encourage nuclear energy development, but recognize that it may still be many years before it meets energy demand. Until then, our mission is to focus on making oil and gas production more clean.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Part of having a sustainable city or community is having clean air and safe water. Air pollution can have disastrous health consequences on animal and plant life. Unsafe water can lead to serious health problems and reduced life expectancy. Our mission is focused on oil and gas production, which typically takes place outside of urban areas. However, these activities have the potential to impact our aquifers, which are often relied upon by larger communities. Similarly, surface and groundwater pollution can have an adverse effect on nearby growing crops or livestock. We know that regardless of where oil and gas pollution is actually occurring, it has an effect on communities many miles away.
SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns
Our Programs partly relate to this Goal, as we focus on encouraging sustainable natural resource production. We seek to encourage the safe handling and storage of oil and gas, related chemicals, and produced wastewater and brine. We educate on ways to reduce waste, such as alternatives to flaring natural gas. We also educate individuals and companies on ways that they can adopt sustainable practices.
SDG 13: Climate Action
We seek to educate on and encourage measures to reduce air and water pollution, including alternatives to flaring natural gas. We encourage a strong, domestic oil and gas industry, especially if it cause a shift from coal reliance to natural gas, a much cleaner alternative. We support advancement in nuclear energy development, which is cleaner still.
SDG 15: Life on Land
Oil and Gas production, with a greater regard to biodiversity and local ecosystems, is possible (and still profitable). While much of our domestic oil and gas is produced in remote areas that some may think looks unappealing, there is robust plant and animal life that depends on a healthy ecosystem. With some additional efforts, it is possible for oil and gas companies to produce hydrocarbons, but still protect the local environment. Some of our programs seek to educate on these issues and encourage innovation.