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.

5.

Why fracking cannot solve Europe’s energy crisis. (n.d.). The Economist. https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/10/04/why-fracking-cannot-solve-europes-energy-crisis

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With Europe in an energy crisis and decreased imports from Russia, England is left in a bad position where it is using more gas than it is producing.  Because of this the prime minister Liz Truss turns to fracking to pick up the lack.  But even though it looks like it works well in America, the result in Europe would be much more lackluster as a result of higher population density, less shale reserves, as well as a probable low approval rate from nearby residents.

This relates to environmental science as It shows how other countries with different geographical strengths might not have the same benefits from practices like fracking which would ultimately result in a poor tradeoff for europe.  I wonder how these countries will respond to these environmental concerns as well as the potential pushback from local communities.

Feds back-pedal on California fracking leases. (n.d.). Www.courthouse news.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-back-pedal-on-california-fracking-leases/

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Further attempts to exploit land in California for oil and gas sparks a lawsuit that was started by conservationists to fight the Bureau of Land Management.  The conservationists argue that the Bureau was overlooking complaints and disregarding the effect it has on local communities.  This article says that areas nearby experience 80% more low birth weight.  In the end the conservationists won and no more drilling can be on those lands.

This article shows again how conservationists in California are taking action to keep the local communities safe and healthy as well as the land. This gives me hope for California and maybe other states can follow our example. 

‘3.

Mindock, C. (2023, January 26). Oil companies ask SCOTUS to review court’s injunction on California offshore fracking. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/oil-companies-ask-scotus-review-courts-injunction-california-offshore-fracking-2023-01-26/

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Oil companies such as ExxonMobil, The American Petroleum institute and refinery in california ask the supreme court to review a decision that effectively banned offshore fracking in california.  These companies were shot down due to the damage fracking can cause to sea life as 10 different chemicals that are waste from fracking can kill marine animals.

This article shows how oil companies are trying to push back the progress made towards clean energy in california.  My response to this article was that I am glad to live in a place where lawmakers are swift in their denial of something that would harm the environment.  Kristen Monsell said, ”Fracking is dangerous to whales, sea otters, and other marine wildlife, and this dirty, harmful technique has no place in our ocean.”

Georgiou, A. (2022, June 3). How does fracking affect the environment? Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/how-does-fracking-affect-environment-1712093

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There are many issues with fracking from its efficiency to its environmental and human impacts.  Fracking from an economical standpoint makes little sense as it takes more energy to get the same amount of gas as a conventional extraction method.  Not only is it inefficient but it also pollutes the atmosphere with methane and nitrous oxide which add to global warming.  It also pollutes the water with the chemicals used such as benzene, xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene.  Many fracking operations are nearby to a town or city and the pollutants can cause many health issues for the residents.  Some health issues associated with fracking are headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness,  stomach and intestinal irritations, liver damage, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, watery eyes, bloody noses, rashes, coughs, chest pain, asthma, and numerous forms of cancer.

This article shows some of the human impacts and how specifically fracking can hurt local communities and ecosystems, as well as how it is not doing enough good to make it worth it.  My reaction to this article was that I couldn’t believe that corporations would effectively debilitate to some extent a town for their whole lives.  Just to produce an ok amount of gas while using much more energy.

Herrick, A. (2023, January 27). Politics, Fracking, and the Future of Energy Policy. SMERCONISH. https://www.smerconish.com/exclusive-content/politics-fracking-and-the-future-of-energy-policy/

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Gas prices have increased dramatically all over the world and the public has more than noticed.   This makes increasing fracking and other methods of extracting natural gas and crude oil very appealing as it would likely reduce prices.  However despite fracking becoming a bigger and bigger part of the global Natural gas and crude oil production, there are concerns over the environmental and health impact it creates.  One example of this was in Dimock whose residents have not had clean drinking water for  a decade as a result of fracking polluting their water pipe lines.

This article shows a connection between the economic wants of the public as well as the environmental impact that it has on nearby communities.  It is astonishing that there are towns that haven’t had clean water for decades and yet the headlines only ever read that Gas prices are high.   This also shows the true interests of those in power who would rather have cheap gas than have healthy citizens.