Shale gas Raising awareness about the detrimental effects of shale gas on the climate, the environment and health

Energy as usual at EU leaders summit

22 May 2013

European leaders met today in Brussels to discuss energy policy. Their official conclusions show that concerns about high costs are delaying the transition to a clean and sustainable energy system.

This is faulty thinking, according to environment group Friends of the Earth Europe, which believes much more urgent changes to Europe's energy system are needed to prevent dangerous climate change.

17 May 2013

Debate: debunking shale gas myths

Along with Food and Water Europe, we took a closer look at the US shale gas boom, and revealed an economic system based on shaky foundations, that side-lines health and the environment, and is reliant on unsustainably low prices driven by speculation and industry overestimates.

28 February 2013

Resistence to fracking in Poland

A new documentary released today highlights the local resistance to shale gas exploration in Poland. The film, produced by The Ecologist Film Unit with help from Friends of the Earth Europe and Food and Water Watch Europe, tells the story of farmers and residents in the region surrounding Gdansk who are worried about the dangers of shale gas extraction in their area.

More

Shale gas poses a real and serious threat to the climate, the environment and local communities. The extraction of shale gas leads to ground-water contamination, serious health impacts, and significantly higher carbon emissions than other fossil fuels.

Friends of the Earth Europe believes that if shale gas is exploited in Europe, our climate and renewable energy targets will be put in jeopardy and unacceptable risks will be imposed on communities and the environment.

Reports & publications

22 May 2013

Shale gas: debunking economic myths

20 Sep 2012

Shale gas: unconventional and unwanted

More reports & publications

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  • Darek Urbaniak
  • Antoine Simon
    • Agriculture

      Food and farming in Europe and its global impacts

    • Agrofuels

      Plant-based fuels from agriculture. Also known as biofuels

    • Biodiversity

      Species and habitat protection in Europe and around the globe

    • GMOs

      Genetically modified crops and organisms

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Biodiversity

      Species and habitat protection in Europe and around the globe

    • Extractive industries

      Oil and gas exploration, and mining

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Materials and waste

      Reducing, reusing and recycling resources

    • Resource use

      Europe’s consumption of land, materials, water and carbon

    • Shale gas

      Unconventional gas and the extraction process known as ‘fracking’

    • Tar sands

      Unconventional oil. Also known as oil sands

    • Water use

      Measuring Europe’s water footprint