Restoration of the oil polluted environment in Ogoniland, Nigeria: - A case study of the interactions between Shell, government and the local communities
Author
Moselund, Katharina Maria West
Term
4. term
Publication year
2015
Submitted on
2015-07-30
Pages
92
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan multinationale selskaber (MNC'er) både kan støtte og hæmme bæredygtig udvikling med miljøskaderne i Ogoniland som case. Den bygger på FN's miljøprogram (UNEP) og dets vurdering af forureningen i Ogoniland og ser på tre centrale aktører med ansvar for oprydning og langsigtet genopretning: regeringen, olieselskaberne (med Shell som det største) og lokalsamfundene. Analysen er styret af fire hypoteser afledt af velkendte teorier: afhængighedsteori (Samir Amin), naturressourcefælden (Paul Collier), virksomheders samfundsansvar/virksomhedsmedborgerskab (CSR) og interessentteori (R. Edward Freeman). Metoden er dokumentarisk, og hypoteserne testes mod empiri fra UNEP's rapport, officielle regeringshjemmesider, Shells hjemmeside, mediedækning om MOSOP og Social Actions' evalueringer af, hvordan aktørerne har fulgt UNEP's anbefalinger. Undersøgelsen finder, at hovedaktørerne ikke har opfyldt UNEP's anbefalinger, og at genopretning af miljøet i Ogoniland er usandsynlig under de nuværende, modstridende interesser. Ifølge afhandlingen prioriterer regeringen gunstige vilkår for Shell for at sikre olierenter, som den er mere afhængig af end skatteindtægter. Så længe Shell ikke agerer som ansvarlig virksomhedsborger og mangler klare økonomiske incitamenter, vurderes reel oprydning som usandsynlig. Lokalsamfundene søger politisk autonomi og kontrol over olieindtægter, hvilket kan skabe positiv forandring, men regeringen ønsker ikke at afgive kontrol. Afhandlingen peger på en lille mulighed for, at risikoen for dyre retssager eller tilstrækkeligt internationalt pres kan få Shell til at handle. Hvis incitamenterne ændrer sig, synes Shell at have kapacitet til at genoprette miljøet i Ogoniland.
This thesis examines how multinational corporations (MNCs) can both support and undermine sustainable development, using environmental damage in Ogoniland as a case study. It draws on the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)'s assessment of pollution in Ogoniland and considers three key stakeholders tasked with cleanup and long-term recovery: the government, oil companies (with Shell as the largest), and local communities. Four hypotheses derived from established theories guide the analysis: Dependency Theory (Samir Amin), the Natural Resource Trap (Paul Collier), Corporate Social Responsibility/Corporate Citizenship, and Stakeholder Theory (R. Edward Freeman. The method is documentary, and the hypotheses are tested against evidence from UNEP's report, official government websites, Shell's website, media coverage related to MOSOP, and Social Actions' evaluations of how stakeholders have implemented UNEP's recommendations. The study finds that the main stakeholders have not met UNEP's recommendations, and that restoration of Ogoniland's environment is unlikely under current conditions because their interests diverge. According to the thesis, the government prioritizes favorable terms for Shell to secure oil revenues, which it relies on more than taxation. As long as Shell does not act as a responsible corporate citizen and lacks clear economic incentives, meaningful cleanup is unlikely. Local communities seek political autonomy and control over oil revenues, which could enable positive change, but the government is unwilling to cede control. There is a small chance that the threat of costly lawsuits or sufficient international pressure could push Shell to act. If incentives change, Shell appears to have the capacity to restore the environment in Ogoniland.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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