Houston aerial view: Photo by Vlad Busuioc

Words: Oyiza Adaba

Photo: Africa-Related/Vlad Busuioc

Houston, Texas

Mayor Sylvester Turner's office announced on Friday that the city of Houston will be leading a delegation to Paris from June 27-July 2, as part of its preliminary mission in combating the environmental impact of the global energy industry.. 

Speaking to the Foreign Press, the President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, Bob Harvey outlined the objectives and commitments of Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HEDI)  which was launched last year. The coalition of 18 key global energy stakeholders will begin the steps toward this transition process, which is expected to lower the world's carbon footprint to net zero by 2050. Their strategy, which leverages on the oil and gas leadership to accelerate these global solutions, will focus on four working sectors - carbon capture, use & storage; clean energy & hydrogen development; industrial decarbonisation, and funding or capital formation. 

Known as the energy capital of the world, Houson is strategic for many reasons. It is home to the renowned Texas Medical Center with MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Johnson Space Center, 25 Fortune 500 corporate headquarters, the Port of Houston which is the largest port in the US, over 1,700 foreign-owned firms and a large foreign born population. 

"Houston is the only city in the world frankly, with the technology expertise, the commercial skills, the manufacturing talent, the infrastructure, to lead the transition to a more sustainable, open future on a global scale" 

-Bob Harvey

Mayor Sylvester Turner who also heads the U.S Climate Network acknowledged the benefits of this initiative to the city's institutions and residents, and said much of Houston's success is built on private public partnership. He was represented by  Christopher Olsen, Director of Trade and International Affairs, who used the opportunity to commend the 'robust' African Diaspora residents in Houston and their contribution to politics, culture and the economy. He called on the Nigerian Government to establish a much-needed Consulate in the city for what he described as 'one of the largest Nigerian populations outside of Nigeria'. 

HEDI to some may be an acknowledgement to decades of environmental degradation caused by the industry's practices like burning of fossil fuel. To others, it could be a start in the industry's effort to right some of its past wrongs, as seen in places like Nigeria's Niger Delta region. The burden of  delivering environmental justice, clean energy and development to communities especially those most impacted, however shouldn't be on Houston alone. In Harvey's words, 

"…There's simply no way we're going to move forward globally, with trillions of dollars of investment to support the energy transition, without it being inclusive, and being very mindful of both current and past inequities, and how this program is going to speak to them.

- Bob Harvey

HEDI estimates about 560,000 new jobs by 2050, if properly implemented. If HEDI were to make a dent of an impact, it would need partnerships and commitments from global Governments, corporations and communities to adopt their framework, in order to credibly achieve its objectives of clean energy production and environment. 

"If we do nothing but follow the path of the traditional energy industry, Houston will likely shed half 1,500,000 jobs by 2050.

- Bob Harvey

Learn more about HEDI and the City of Houston 

Oyiza Adaba is Nigerian journalist and producer @africarelated