CNN, (2022, October 20), What’s all the fuss about fracking in the UK? Retrieved January 27, 2023 from

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/20/energy/uk-fracking-gas-energy-explainer-climate-intl-gbr/index.                                                                                                         html

This article discusses the politics surrounding the fracking ban in the UK. The ban was lifted briefly in the fall of 2022, but was quickly reactivated. Many europeans are trying to move off of using fossil fuels, and banning fracking was a major step towards clean energy in europe. Many people were upset when the fracking ban was lifted and many politicians pointed fingers at conservative political leaders. In the end, europe will continue to look for solutions to the energy problem and they will attempt to spread clean energy throughout the continent while also using as little fossil fuels as possible

My opinion on this is that this is a good approach to the issue surrounding fracking. Europe is clearly taking more action than the US, and the US should look at europe as a role model when it comes to this issue. If everyone can be as ambitious as these european countries who have banned fracking, we will be able to develop a clean renewable energy souce much sooner. This concerns environmental science because this is one way a major part of the world is approaching climate change and the use of fossil fuels. I believe this is the ideal method of approach to this situation, and the US should follow in the footsteps of the UK.

Politico, (2022, November 27), How Biden may save U.S. gas exports to Europe. Retrieved January 27, 2023 from

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/27/biden-gas-exports-europe-440678

This article is about how europe is beginning to take action is shifting to clean energy sources and is trying to move off of fossil fuel imports from america. This would obviously harm the US economy, and Biden is doing as much as he can to establish a system that evaluates the harmfulness of fossil fuels so european countries are aware of the harm they are doing to the environment by importing and using different fossil fuels. While there are still many eastern european and asian countries that import gas from the US, they too are beginning to be more cautious when it comes to fossil fuels. Biden is doing everything he can to ensure that as much american gas is being purchased as possible.

My opinion is that European countries should continue to buy fossil fuels because there are not any reliable clean energy sources that are widespread enough to support entire countries. I think that as long as European countries limit the amount that they import, they will be able to reduce their carbon footprint while also ensuring that energy stays affordable. This relates to environmental science because it concerns a possible energy crisis. The only real reliable sources of energy we have right now are harmful to the environment. We need to focus on finding new clean sources of energy and spreading those energy sources across the world. Only then will countries be stable in regard to energy and the economy.

The Guardian, (2022, October 24), Rishi Sunak will keep ban on fracking in UK, No 10 confirms.

Retrieved January 27, 2023 from

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/26/rishi-sunak-ban-on-fracking-uk-no-10

This article is about how the lift of the fracking ban in the UK that took place in September of 2022 was reversed just a month later. The then Prime Minister had a short lived run and was replaced with a new candidate with different ideas. Prime Minister Rish Sunak activated the fracking ban again and stated that it would stay that way as long as he was in office. He has decided to continue to import fossil fuels from other countries, and will not tolerate the damage that fracking causes. This is interesting because in the span of one month the fracking ban in the UK went from active to inactive to active again. However it looks now as though it will stay banned for a while. The UK will focus on finding clean renewable energy sources and make those sources more available while they import fossil fuels to maintain the amount of energy that they need.

My opinion on this is that it is a valid approach to the situation. Personally, I side with the old plan of allowing fracking but only in limited amounts with strict laws surrounding the process of fracking. However, this new approach is good as well. It will mean that the UK will have a smaller carbon footprint and will not have too much of an overall effect on the UK as a whole compared to how things were in September. This relates to environmental science because this is yet another approach to fracking and is a new way to deal with the limited resources due to the war.

The Guardian, (2022, December 3), Anthony Albanese’s latest plan to subsidise foreign coal and gas companies is just absurd. Retrieved January 27, 2023 from

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/14/anthony-albaneses-latest-plan-to-subsidise-foreign-coal-and-gas-companies-is-just-absurd

Australia’s government has created a new policy that they hope will reduce the impacts of fracking and burning fossil fuels. While other countries have attempted to reduce the use of fossil fuels through carbon taxes and heavy encouragement to use clean, renewable energy, Australia is doing it differently. Their government does not want to reduce the amount of fracking or the amount of fossil fuels being used. They have decided to attempt to balance out their carbon footprint by planting more trees and other plants to reduce the effects of their fossil fuel consumption. However, they are making no effort to reduce the amount of fracking or the amount of fossil fuels they are burning. Instead, they are planning to increase fracking in their country and hope that the impacts of doing so will decrease due to the vegetation they have planted.

My opinion is that this is definitely not a good approach to fixing the harmful effects of fracking. We should not be focusing on ways to reduce the effects of fossil fuels but instead we should be looking for ways to move off of fossil fuels as a whole. We should be focusing on how to find a clean renewable energy source and make it available globally. This is a good example of how a country should not approach fracking. This relates to environmental science because this is another way that a country is trying to combat the effects of fracking. In this case however, the solution is not very good.

AP News, (2022, September 22), UK government lifts fracking ban despite opposition. Retrieved January 27, 2023 from https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-entertainment-england-hydraulic-fracturing-liz-truss-8dbb0fbc0fa6dbf85e979043bfd7b32a

This article is about how the UK has recently lifted its ban on fracking so they can become energy independent during the war between Russia and Ukraine. In 2019, the UK placed a ban on fracking due to its negative effects on the environment. This law stayed in effect until recently when the new Prime Minister lifted this ban in order to become energy independent. Previously, the UK relied on imports of oil and other fossil fuels for energy. One of their main suppliers was Russia. However, due to the war, the UK can no longer get fossil fuels from Russia., and have to find their own way to get fossil fuels. This is why they lifted the ban on fracking. Going forward, the UK will try to limit fracking and only obtain just enough fossil fuels so that the country can continue to function. There will also be stricter laws surrounding fracking and companies will need new licenses and be required to follow new regulations.

My opinion on this is I think this is the ideal way to approach the situation. I agree with the UK’s approach because first world countries should be energy independent and certainly should not support Russia right now by buying their oil. I think the US should be more like the UK in the sense that they should limit fracking and only obtain the amount of fossil fuels that is necessary to avoid harming the environment. Furthermore, I think the US should have strict regulations and policies regarding fracking, similar to those that the UK has. This would ensure that the environment is much better protected. This relates to environmental science because it is a different approach to handling fracking and its negative effects.

Virginia Mercury. (2022, April 21). What new Virginia laws reveal about how the natural gas industry sees its future. Retrieved August 17, 2022 from https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/04/21/what-new-virginia-laws-reveal-about-how-the-natural-gas-industry-sees-its-future/ 

This article is about how despite our countries recent interest in finding renewable energy sources and slowly decreasing the use of gas and oil, the recent war has led many European countries to rely on gas and oil from fracking in the US. This has led to increased production, and ultimately sets back our goal of switching to a renewable energy system. Once the war is over though, and those European countries no longer need to rely on the US, we will focus on creating a 100% renewable energy system. Not only does having a system like this benefit the environment, but it is also cheaper. The fracking industry will not disappear after this change. We still rely heavily on natural gas to heat our homes. For the foreseeable future, fracking is here to stay.

This relates to environmental science because it discusses our countries future in creating a new energy system. It brings up more questions such as how can we completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels. My opinion is that as soon as the war ends we should continue producing natural gas and oil at the same rate so prices drop. Then, once we have made a good plan for how to switch to renewable energy, we can cut back the production of oil and gas and hopefully eventually eliminate fracking as a whole.

The Atlantic. (2022, March 8). America Is the World’s Largest Oil Producer. So Why Is Losing Russia’s Oil Such a Big Deal? Retrieved August 17, 2022 from https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/03/us-oil-natural-gas-price-surge-energy-independence/626979/ 

This article discusses how the way oil production in the US is set up is leading to the recent high oil prices. The article mentions how in other countries that are major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, they have their oil production set up so that in case of emergency they have 6 months worth of oil saved up and use methods that allow them to heavily increase their oil production in a matter of weeks. This is because their government heavily oversees oil production. In the US, however, oil production is dominated by private companies who have recently acted in the interest of their investors rather than that of the government or economy. Fracking companies slowed down production fo let prices rise and rake in more profits, but now that Russia is in a war with Ukraine, oil is in high demand. Unfortunately, these fracking companies cannot suddenly increase their oil production in a few weeks like producers in other countries can. It takes many months for new drills and wells to start producing oil. This low supply has led to an increase in gas and oil prices.

My opinion on this is that this is yet another reason why we should be looking for a more sustainable, reliable, and renewable energy source. Although fracking has been very successful over the past few decades, this does not mean it is reliable. Due to recent events, gas prices have skyrocketed, and our reliance on fracking is at fault. This relates to environmental science because It shows that we are in need of a reliable and renewable energy source. This shows that we need to continue to put effort into finding such a source to avoid situations like this in the future.

Slate. (2022, April 11). The Enduring Myth of America’s “Molecules of Freedom”. Retrieved August 17. 2022 from https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/04/ukraine-war-american-fracking-natural-gas-exports-russia.html 

This article is about how the war in Ukraine has led to demand heavily increasing world wide, as Russia is one of the world’s biggest fuel providers. Many European countries that previously relied on Russian oil are now coming to the US for help. Unfortunately, the US is not producing oil fast enough. Many fracking companies nearly went bankrupt due to low profits, and when the pandemic hit, they were able to lay off workers and cut costs due to the heavily decreased demand for oil. Now, just 2 years after the pandemic hit, demand has skyrocketed and this is causing US gas prices to go up. This has started a debate over whether fracking is really the answer to America’s desire to become truly energy independent. Many people argue against fracking because it is very costly, and is essentially just as harmful to the environment as burning coal.

My opinion is that fracking should continue, and these high prices are just temporary. When the war ends and Russia goes back to supplying other countries with fuel, gas prices will go back down. I believe fracking is a good bridge to finding a renewable energy source, but by no means is it sustainable. This relates to environmental science because it brings up the discussion of the impact of fracking on the environment. It brings up the good point that while fracking has helped our country’s push for energy independence, we need to prioritize finding renewable energy sources, because fracking is not sustainable.

Business Insider. (2022, June 11). A fracking boom made the US the world;s biggest oil producer. Now its end is pushing gas prices much higher. Retrieved August 17,2022 from https://www.businessinsider.com/why-gas-prices-rising-energy-fracking-boom-ending-oil-shortage-2022-6 

Fracking has been very important in the US in the last 10 years, as the industry has grown very much. However, These companies are partially to blame for the recent increase in gas prices. Recent events such as Russia invading Ukraine has led demand on oil to skyrocket. Unfortunately, fracking companies in the US are not producing fast enough to keep up with the demand, therefore increasing prices. This is due to complaints from shareholders of these companies, who were upset that the companies had been focusing more on growth than profits. After a huge oil boom in 2019, the companies decided to not focus as much on growth, and instead put more effort into becoming more profitable, like the shareholders wanted. This worked at first, as the pandemic hit and energy demand decreased dramatically. But now demand has risen and is very high right now, and the companies have not sped up their production, therefore causing gas prices to go up.

My opinion on the information in the article is that companies should focus now on growth and production, as it is desperately needed at this time. This relates to environmental science because it puts pressure on us to find new ways to provide energy. Since oil prices are so high right now, it would be beneficial for both the environment and peoples financial situations to switch to a more environment-friendly source of energy. Driving electric cars is one example of how we could change. Electric care benefit the environment, and owners of electric cars do not need to worry about high gas prices.

The Washington Post. (2022, June 23). Why Fracking Won’t Solve The Global Oil And Gas Squeeze. Retrieved August 11, 2022 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/why-fracking-wont-solve-the-global-oil-and-gas-squeeze/2022/06/22/588dae6a-f275-11ec-ac16-8fbf7194cd78_story.html 

This article is about how despite early promise shown by fracking, it is not a good long term solution. When fracking first became popular, there was a big oil boom where the US has an abundance of oil, and they no longer needed to rely on other countries to provide them with these resources. They had enough energy to support the entire country, and they had enough to export the oil at rapid rates. This led to a monopoly until other countries attempted to lower prices and drive frackers out of business by flooding the market with crude oil. American oil producers changed their approach, so instead of trying to produce so much that they could export it, they focused on producing enough to supply America with enough energy. Unfortunately, this is not sustainable due to the fact that fracking requires an extremely large supply of water, and it does not provide the country with renewable energy, which is what we are trying to achieve

My personal opinion on this information is that fracking seems to be a good system to provide our country with energy at the moment. However, we should still focus on finding ways to switch to a 100% renewable energy system. This relates to environmental science because one of the main reasons fracking is so controversial is due to the fact that it is not renewable, and therefore is not sustainable because our planet will be destroyed if we continue to rely on oil and gas to provide us with energy.