Abstract SYMPHOS 2011

Environment & sustainable development KN5
Michael Zammit Cutajar
Former Ambassador on Climate Change, Malta
Sustainability will be a component of corporate competitiveness in this half-century – driven both by the perpetual
search for resource efficiency and by rising expectations of environmental and social standards. The phosphate
industry will need to pursue these general aims amidst growing global concern about feeding a “9-billion world”.
In pursuing a strategy for sustainability to 2050, the phosphate industry and its main actors should:
• promote sustainable use of fertilizers, notably in regions (e.g. Africa) where access to them is inadequate;
• set verifiable benchmarks of environmental performance that should be integrated in measuring and
rewarding corporate success;
• invest in economic diversification and social development around operating hubs, as well as in national
infrastructure that is supportive of production operations;
• support research on new resources and processes, and engage in open dialogue with all stakeholders.
18
Dr Philippe A. Tanguy
Total SA, Paris, FRANCE
“PHOSPHATES IN SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT”
CARBON AND WATER MANAGEMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL SUSTAINABILITY –
EXAMPLES FROM THE OIL INDUSTRY
Environment & sustainable development KN6
The present energy system based on non-sustainable resources is reaching its limits. As the “business-as-usual’
scenario will not be able to cope with the increased energy demand while addressing climate change issues,
new scenarios must be deployed to reduce the environmental footprint of energy production and use. They rely
mostly on a significant increase in energy efficiency, the development of renewable and new energy sources, and
greenhouse gas mitigation measures, especially carbon capture and storage. The proposed scenarios, however, pay
little attention to their underlying water requirements. Yet, the development of several “new” energies requires a
large amount of water, which may jeopardize their industrial deployment at large scale. In a sustainable world, it is
essential to establish sound management policies for the access and use of water. This brings a clear and important
message to industry that it is of paramount importance to develop and implement water use improved practices
and find alternative water sources, especially in countries where the supply of water is already constrained. Process
engineering innovations will be needed to establish solutions that are sustainable on the long term.