EurActiv: Scientists bury hopes of EU shale gas revolution

Although there are no scientific grounds to ban fracking, shale gas will do little to solve Europe’s energy supply security problems, according to a new report by the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC).

Best practices have “greatly reduced the environmental footprint of shale gas fracturing,” the EASAC said, claiming that risks can be appropriately managed.

These include the replacement of potentially harmful chemicals and the full disclosure of all the additives used in the hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – process, notes the report published on Thursday (13 November).

Moreover, regulatory systems are already in place in most countries to minimise the impact on health, safety and the environment, the report said.
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