Fracking Regulations in Germany: A Complete Ban, Some Allowances, or a Potential Revival?
In recent years, the issue of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been a topic of debate in Germany. Here's a breakdown of the key points surrounding this controversial practice.
An expert commission, established by the German government to monitor fracking scientifically, has come under scrutiny for its methods. The commission is using an outdated factor for calculating the CO equivalents of methane emissions, which raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of its findings.
The term 'conventional fracking' is a point of contention as well. The German government labels sites containing tight gas (natural gas trapped in sandstone) as conventional, despite many organizations defining these sites as unconventional. This discrepancy could have significant implications for the regulation and impact of fracking in the country.
The expert commission's report has been criticized for being incomplete, with key aspects omitted or depicted incorrectly. As a result, it cannot serve as a robust basis for the German Bundestag's decision on the legal framework for fracking.
Despite the controversies, Germany has a legal framework regulating fracking, agreed upon in June 2016. This framework includes protections for drinking water and groundwater. However, only commercial, unconventional fracking projects are temporarily banned until 2021 in Germany, while fracking in sandstone strata is still explicitly permitted.
Germany's technically recoverable shale gas reserves are estimated to be around 800-940 billion cubic meters. If tapped, this would require approximately 48,000 drillings over an area of 9,300 square kilometers, according to a report published by Germany's Federal Environment Agency in 2014.
The practice of fracking raises concerns about water consumption, as it involves enormous amounts of water. This could lead to competition with irrigation and agricultural water consumption.
The climate impact of natural gas, especially fracked natural gas, is a matter of ongoing debate. A recent study by Prof. Robert Howarth of Cornell University suggests that the climate impact of natural gas is as bad as that of coal.
On the international stage, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has recommended that the British government consider introducing a comprehensive and complete ban on fracking to protect the rights of rural women in England. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has issued a warning on the fracking of shale gas in Argentina, stating that it runs counter to the Paris Agreement and would have a negative impact on global warming.
In Germany, the public's concerns have led to rejections of fracking projects in Lower Saxony and North-Rhine/Westphalia. The German government has permitted up to four exploratory trials in shale, argillite, marlstone, or coal seams for fracking.
Andy Gheorghiu, an independent campaigner and consultant for climate and environmental protection, is among those advocating for a more cautious approach to fracking in Germany.
As the debate continues, it's clear that fracking is a complex issue with far-reaching implications for Germany's energy future and its commitment to environmental protection.
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