I was pleased to see the previous French conservative government had banned fracking and I am equally pleased to see that the new liberal government – elected in May – kept it banned.
So there is a political consensus against it, at least in France. This is a good thing as fracking is, let us not mince words, dangerous. This was clearly shown in the recent European report.
Hydraulic fracturing uses a lot of water, contaminates water tables, both being a huge problem as droughts are becoming more and more frequent as climate warms.
I believe that the fact that natural gas retrieved by the means of fracking is a false friend and a true enemy.
Here is a metaphor I am willing to share with you :
We are addicted to oil and other fossil fuels, even US President George W Bush admitted it. So just like a drunk whose liver is almost destroyed, we are considering lighter drinks – energy sources – when we should go off fossil fuels completely.
Fracking is sure cleaner that coal but going for it would be like quitting whisky to go for martini and beers when our liver – our climate – is on the verge of destruction.
So, if we are serious of saving our lives, we shouldn’t go for lighter carbon sources, we should completely go fossil fuels.
No IF, no BUT, we just have to say good bye and good riddance fossil fuels and the sooner the better…