Welcome to the SPE Sustainable Development Technical Section (SDTS)

The SDTS brings together SPE members who are committed to advancing the future of energy through strong sustainability, systems thinking, and technically grounded action.

We are the home of the SPE Gaia Sustainability Program, co-created by SPE members to empower engineers, scientists, and energy professionals to confidently engage with the world’s most urgent sustainability challenges. Gaia helps our community learn, collaborate, ask better questions, and develop solutions that keep the industry on the right side of history.

What We Focus On

  • Transform the Energy System – People and technology shaping a resilient future
  • Measure What Matters – Metrics for action, impact, and accountability
  • Regenerate Natural Capital – Protecting and restoring ecological foundations
  • Enable a People-Centered Transition – Supporting workforce, communities, and society

These themes are supported by two enabling behaviors essential to strong sustainability: Engage & Listen and Collaborate to Innovate.

How We Engage

Each offering provides a safe, non-hierarchical space to learn, explore ideas, and connect with diverse expertise — from operators and researchers to activists and policy leaders.

Why It Matters

Humanity is operating close to — and in many cases beyond — the planet’s safe boundaries. SDTS exists to help SPE members develop the knowledge, confidence, and agency needed to accelerate meaningful progress while ensuring reliable energy for the world.

Join Us

Whether you are at the beginning of your sustainability journey or driving transformational change, SDTS offers a global community where you can learn, contribute, and help move the needle — not just tick boxes.


Up to 100 invited attendees focused on a strategic theme and move the needle goal. 2024 Decarbonization Congress  2023 Oman Gaia Summit 2023

SPE GAIA EVENT JOURNAL


90 minute, single or series, panel or fireside, open exchange on complex new knowledge, with external and internal experts in new knowledge.

Look to our SDTS Event Archive and SPE Energy Stream for the archive of many of our Gaia Masterclasses.

Gaia Talks

30 minute webinars on Zoom or SPE Live with one guest/one host. safe space, external and internal experts in new knowledge.

Look to our SDTS Event Archive SPE Energy Stream for the archive of many of our Gaia Talks

Panels

Gaia-enabled panels/special sessions at SPE flagship events e.g. ATCE, EuropEC, IPTC etc

Section Awards

Gaia Section Awards

Contact Latam y Caribe Liaisons

Gaia on LinkedIn

2,000+ members & growing - a diverse community of oil and gas adjacent engineers and activists.

Latest Discussions

Gaia Events

SPE Gaia Masterclass: Life Cycle Emissions Accounting for Oil and Gas

March 17, 2026 (8:00–9:30am Central Time)

Register here: Gaia Masterclass 20260318

Accounting for emissions across an oil and gas supply chain can be done with life cycle accounting principles to arrive at product level emission intensity estimates.  The methods that are employed can vary significantly by estimator in their choice of units, system boundaries, treatment of coproducts and in particular their data source for methane emissions.  During this deep-dive Masterclass, learn about the importance of each of these choices and how S&P Global Energy conducts assessments of oil and gas supply chain emissions intensities.

The following topics will be covered:

  1. Importance of defining system boundaries
  2. Materiality and negligible emissions sources
  3. Primary emissions included: sources and constituents
  4. Units of choice – functional units and final presentation units may be different
  5. Importance of accurate methane emissions quantification
  6. Dealing with co-products throughout the value chain
  7. Example of an LNG supply chain LCA
  8. Example of an oil to refinery product LCA

Speakers: Heather Jones, Director Emissions Modeling, Center of Emissions Excellence, S&P Energy Horizons