SEARCH IN WORK
April 15, 2015

Considerations for the Development of Shale Gas in the United Kingdom

Overview

 

The United States shale gas boom has precipitated global interest in the development of unconventional oil and gas resources. Recently, government ministers in the United Kingdom started granting licenses that will enable companies to begin initial exploration for shale gas. Meanwhile, concern is increasing among the scientific community about the potential impacts of shale gas and other types of unconventional natural gas development (UGD) on human health and the environment. Although significant data gaps remain, there has been a surge in the number of articles appearing in the scientific literature, nearly three-quarters of which has been published since the beginning of 2013. Important lessons can be drawn from the UGD experience in the United States. Here we explore these considerations and argue that shale gas development policies in the UK and elsewhere should be informed by empirical evidence generated on environmental, public health, and social risks. Additionally, policy decisions should take into account the measured effectiveness of harm reduction strategies as opposed to hypothetical scenarios and purported best practices that lack empirical support.

Resources

Sign up for email updates!

Join our email list to learn about our latest research, analysis, and events.

Sign up for email updates!

Join our email list to learn about our latest research, analysis, and events.

Sign up for email updates!

Join our email list to learn about our latest research, analysis, and events.

Sign up for email updates!

Join our email list to learn about our latest research, analysis, and events.

Pin It on Pinterest

SIGN UP FOR EMAILS
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut