global shale gas and the anti-fracking movement: perspectives for unions tued web meeting january...

Global Shale Gas and the Anti-Fracking Movement: Perspectives for Unions

TUED Web MeetingJanuary 28, 2014

Lara Skinner, Ph.D. and Sean Sweeney, Ph.D.

Overview

1. Global Expansion of Fracking

2. Impact of Fracking on Workers, Communities & the Environment

3. Anti-Fracking Movement Grows - Goes Global & Includes Trade Unions

4. Union support for a global moratorium on fracking?

What is hydraullic fracturing, “fracking”?

Gas Industry Pushes “Golden Age of Gas”

• 7.3 billion cubic feet of ‘technically recoverable’ shale gas

• 41 countries have significant shale gas supplies

• Fracking already occurring or being explored in many countries

Water Contamination from Fracking

• Fracking Produces Large Amounts of Wastewater – where does it go?

• Fracking Chemicals, Methane, Wastewater – Pose Serious Risk to Drinking Water and Natural Waterways

Water Scarcity and Fracking

• Fracking Uses Huge Amounts of Freshwater

• Each fracking well uses 2 million to 5.6 million gallons of freshwater (7.6 to 21 m liters)

Fracking Effects Worker Health & Safety

• Workers Exposed to Harmful Levels of Silica• Silica sand is used as a proppant to keep

fractures open• Effects: silicosis, lung cancer, other

diseases

• Shale Gas Contains High Levels of Radon• Radon is the leading cause of cancer in

non-smokers• Effects workers as well as communities

near drill sites and end point users

Bridge To Nowhere: Full Lifecycle Emissions of Shale Gas Greater Than Coal?

Source: Howarth, et al. 2011

Global Opposition to Fracking Grows

Number of Moratoria on Fracking is Rising

• Bulgaria• Czech Republic • France• Germany• Luxemburg• Northern Ireland• Republic of Ireland• Romania• South Africa

• Many local moratoria and other actions to prevent fracking have been implemented at the sub-national level, like in:• New York, U.S.• Quebec, Canada• New South Wales,

Australia• Parts of UK, Poland

Trade Union Positions on Fracking

• Many Trade Unions Have Not Yet Taken A Position On Fracking

• Unions Supporting Fracking: Oil and Natural Gas Industry Labor-Management Committee, U.S.

• Trade Union Bodies Oppose Fracking, Call for A Ban• Union locals in certain states like New York and

California, U.S.• CUPE and UNIFOR, Canada• TUC, UK• CTA and FeTERA, Argentina• European Public Sector Unions• PSI Tunisian affiliate

Unions Join Call for Global Moratorium on Fracking?

Thank you

http://www.energydemocracyinitiative.org