engleski

Impact of greenhouse gasses stabilization initiatives on Croatian petroleum industry

Even though the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on global climate began at the end of 19th century it took more than half of a century for scientists to start up addressing this problem. Since the impact was global, variable and long term, for a long time there was no initiative of countries or emission intensive industries to control and accept responsibility for GHG emissions. Today the greatest part of the responsibility for adverse environmental impact due to GHG emissions, as on local so on regional and global scale, lies on industry and energy sector. Petroleum industry is one of GHG emission intensive industries. Beside direct CO2 and CH4 emissions with oil and gas production, petroleum industry is also characterized with high-energy intensity and final products with high emission potentials. Besides facing the same problems as other petroleum industries due to new high ecological standards, Croatian petroleum industry is also faced with lack of domestic legal regulative addressing stabilization of GHG emissions and, at the same time, increasing international directives for adoption of international environmental regulations. Croatia has signed and ratified several international agreements considering GHG emission stabilization. The UNFCCC was ratified in 1996. and in 1999. Croatia has signed the Kyoto Protocol by which it is committed to reduce GHG emissions in period between 2008 and 2012 by 5% to 1990 levels. Since the admission to EU is one of main political and economical goals of Croatia the ratification of Kyoto Protocol in Croatia is not questionable. Due to wide implementation of GHG emissions limitation laws there is necessity to incorporate climate change factors into corporative strategies of petroleum companies in order to minor corporate risks and to assure long-term competitive advantages.

air quality management; natural recourses management; hydrocarbons

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