New EU study confirms that drilling for shale gas poses “high risk” to human health.
The study commissioned by the EU highlights eight risks to human and environmental wellbeing and warns that no fracking should be allowed in areas where water is being used for drinking purposes.
The seven other risks include contamination and depletion of ground and surface water, degradation of biodiversity, land, air quality and the danger of earthquakes. A separate report by the EU Joint Research Centre said the study on the impact on gas markets predicted that even under a best-case scenario, for shale gas in the EU an increase in domestic natural gas production would only "help the EU maintain energy import dependency at around 60 per cent", adding that there is "considerable uncertainty about recoverable volumes, technological developments, public acceptance and access to land”.
Philip Mitchell, Chair of Blackpool and Fylde Green Party said:
"This report confirms the high risk to human health and the environment linked to fracking, and adds weight to the warnings of scientists that the densely-populated UK must steer clear from unlocking it's unconventional hydrocarbon resources such as shale gas, not only to apply the brakes to rapidly approaching dangerous climate change caused by the consequent carbon emissions, but also to protect our communities and the environment."
ENDS
Notes for the editor:
1)The Tyndall Centre, University of Manchester concluded in the Report on Shale Gas (January 2011):
“In an energy hungry world any new fossil fuel resource will only lead to additional carbon emissions. In the case of shale gas there is also a significant risk its use will delay the introduction of renewable energy alternatives. Consequently, if we are serious about avoiding dangerous climate change, the only safe place for shale gas remains in the ground.