| Over the past decade the strategic responses to climate change by Canada's integrated oil and gas companies have diverged along a spectrum ranging from reactive to proactive. This qualitative study compared the companies on the basis of their fiscal characteristics and performance, the carbon intensity of current fossil fuel production and future reserves, their climate change governance and greenhouse gas emissions performance. Through a review of the environmental management literature, semi-structured interviews with interviewees drawn from the oil and gas industry, strategy consultants and environmental non-governmental organizations, it was determined that the key factors influencing a company's strategic response are the corporate culture, in particular whether it is committed to sustainable development, and the leadership of the company. Topics for future research to further explore and validate these findings are suggested and recommendations are presented to government regarding opportunities to elicit proactive responses from Canada's oil and gas industry. |
