Something very significant is under way for the future of research into oil spill response and the oil and natural gas industry’s relationship with the Arctic. Nine major oil and gas companies are pooling their knowledge, resources and insights as part of a four-year research programme into oil spill response. They are doing so under the auspices of theInternational Association of Oil and Gas Producers, the body that represents the industry at the United Nations, the European Union and other global and regional bodies.