Global governance, health systems and oil and gas exploration

Purpose - The aim of the article is to explore the central risks, benefits and impacts of oil and gas exploration on human communities' health and environment worldwide. It suggests a new model of governance to a more effective and coherent environmental management framework. Design/methodology/approach - The article uses a case-based approach, utilizing a review of past literature as a vehicle to discuss possible new approaches and paths for the development of an innovative model of environmental governance relating to oil and gas industry. Findings - The article demonstrates the necessity of improving the current governance patterns, economic theory and current models of development trying to align them with innovative effective mechanisms of risk management on sectoral industry dealing with highly risky resources exploration at a global platform. Practical implications - The article provides a fresh illustration of the challenges of the oil and gas industry and environmental management by trying to point out the health impacts at the same time that suggests a profound reflection on new patterns of integrative and realigned governance. Social implications - The examine of the balance of risks and benefits associated with unarticulated and unaligned models of development, or sometimes the absolute lack of these models. Originality/value - The article is original in its development of a new framework of governance aligned to revisited management systems, processes and infrastructure needed for a more efficient exploration of resources base of our economic system.