Download Jeunes MR, FEL – Precautionary principle on shale gas

LYMEC RESOLUTIONS FORM
Submitted by:
Jeunes MR and FEL (Fédération des Étudiants Libéraux)
Resolution
spokesperson:
Mathieu BIHET, Aurian DELLI PIZZI, Steve DETRY, Balint GYEVAI
Title
Precautionary principle on shale gas extraction
Chapter
Chapter 6: “Climate Action, Energy and Natural Resources”
Keywords
Shale gas – hydraulic fracturing – energy dependence – lack of
a common European position – environmental and sanitary
impact of shale gas extraction
Summary (optional)
Whereas, Noting that,
Noting that:
Stating, Taking into
account, Recognising etc. - The EU is the largest energy market in the world.
Knowing, Aware of,
Considering that etc.
Concludes, Stresses out,
Urges, Demands,
Expresses, Believes that,
Welcomes, Condemns
etc.
LYMEC Calls upon,
LYMEC proposes the
following etc.
- The EU suffers from great energy dependence, importing
57% of its gas and 82% of its oil.
- Energy suppliers of Europe such as Russia, several Caucasus
countries or other members of the OPEC might be subject to
unstable regime, frequently violate human rights and might
use the EU energy dependence to establish a position of
strength on a geopolitical level.
- The Cambridge Energy Research Associated estimated the
shale gas reserves in Europe between 3.000 and 12.000
billions of m³ even if those estimations are imprecise.
- Many experts have been recently warning politics against the
speculation bubble that shale gas extraction has created in the
United States, showing that shale gas acreages are less reliable
and profitable than planned.
- The only efficient method developed so far to extract shale
gas is hydraulic fracturing.
- Hydraulic fracturing method consists in injecting around 15
000 m3 of water with sand and various chemical additives in
the ground, what may represent important ecological and
sanitary consequences including waste of water, pollution of
groundwater tables, impacts on local population.
- European countries are divided on the question of the
exploitation of shale gas and more specifically on the position
to adopt as regards the potential ecological and sanitary
danger of the extraction method of this gas.
- Several European countries are considering exploiting shale
gas, have begun doing so or are setting up the adequate
infrastructure to exploit shale gas (United Kingdom, Poland,
Denmark).
- Several European countries have either banned the
exploitation of shale gas (France, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria) or
adopted a precautionary principle not to resort to hydraulic
fracturing and, accordingly, to the exploitation of shale gas
(Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria).
- In January 2014, the European Commission allowed the
exploitation of shale gas and restrained itself to encouraging
the exploiting countries to be careful and to respect some
'minimal common principles' despite the opposition of liberal
Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik and a
majority of MEP.
Considering that:
- Each European country is legitimate to choose its own energy
mix as a principle of subsidiarity.
- The EU is a territory two and half times smaller than the
United States where environmental decisions taken in one
Member State can have an impact on another one.
- Energetic security and independence should be obtained in
the future through the development of renewable energy, to a
lesser extent, through ‘traditional’ energy (nuclear, coal, gas),
and, when necessary, through an appropriate cooperation
between European countries, for example in the field of
technological researches, but it should not be a priority to the
detriment of ecological aspects.
- The real solution to energetic independence lies in a
European policy that respects the natural environment and the
health of European citizens.
Calls upon:
- Ban on shale gas extraction in each Member State until a
clean alternative to hydraulic fracturing is developed, even if
we need affordable energy with lower carbon emission. This
ban does not concern the purchasing of gas issued from shale
gas from other countries than EU countries (i.e. from the USA)
as long as it does not go against international treaties targets
that fight against climate change.
- Appropriate researches to be conducted in true transparency
on the ecological and sanitary consequences of extraction of
shale gas through hydraulic fracturing, and the potential
alternatives to this mode of extraction, before any actual
extraction can happen.
- Further interactions and debates to be conducted with the
European Parliament, in order to give legitimation and
transparency to such decisions and negotiations.
- Further negotiations at the European level to establish as
soon as possible a true Energy Union that might ensure more
energy independence to the EU while providing secure,
affordable and sustainable energy to all Europeans.
- Better promoting and financing energy efficiency considering
that it represents a real alternative in terms of saving energy
and money.
- Continuing European efforts to reduce greenhouse gases
emissions and to include a bigger part for renewables in our
energy mixes.
Striking down other
resolutions
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