FoE campaigner calls for halt to shale gas fracking

Picture of an anti-fracking campaign poster for Your Expert Witness storyWith the European Gas Policy Forum 2012 addressing the issue of shale gas and its potential impact on both security of supply in Europe and on climate change, a leading campaigner against shale gas extraction has called for Europe to "slam the door shut on shale gas", drawing attention to three reports issued by the European Commission on the subject.

According to a release issued by the Commission: "The studies look at the potential effects of these fuels on energy markets, the potential climate impact of shale gas production, and the potential risks shale gas developments and associated hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') may present to human health and the environment."

Referring to one of them, Antoine Simon of Friends of the Earth Europe wrote in PublicServiceEurope.com, published on 3 October: "A report published last month by the environment directorate general identified a number of high risks for health and the environment."

The EC release had this to say on the issue: "The study on environmental impacts shows that extracting shale gas generally imposes a larger environmental footprint than conventional gas development. Risks of surface and ground water contamination, water resource depletion, air and noise emissions, land take, disturbance to biodiversity and impacts related to traffic are deemed to be high in the case of cumulative projects."

The other two reports – on energy market impact and climate impact – are less critical but not commendatory.

The EC release says of the energy market report: "Drawing on the US experience and reviewing potential EU resources, it suggests that under a best case scenario, future shale gas production in Europe could help the EU maintain energy import dependency at around 60%. But it also reveals sometimes considerable uncertainty about recoverable volumes, technological developments, public acceptance and access to land and markets."

Furthermore: "The study on climate impacts shows that shale gas produced in the EU causes more GHG emissions than conventional natural gas produced in the EU, but – if well managed – less than imported gas from outside the EU, be it via pipeline or by LNG due to the impacts on emissions from long-distance gas transport."

Antoine Simon is in no doubt about what needs to be done. He concluded: "The dangers of shale gas will have to be recognised and the brakes put on this high-risk, unnecessary technology. Our latest report recommends that Europe permanently closes its doors to unconventional and unwanted fossil fuels like shale gas, and embraces a low-carbon energy model, based on renewable energy and improved energy savings."