Can Shale Gas Help Accelerate the Transition to Sustainability?

Abstract

The sudden and unexpected development of shale gas has the potential to accelerate or hinder the transition to sustainability, depending on how it is handled. Sustainable development is a useful evaluative framework for shale gas development. It would have us analyze its environmental, social, economic, and security dimensions at the same time, and look for ways to make all four dimensions mutually reinforcing. Analyzing a broad range of issues, this article asks, and suggests answers to, the question of whether, or how, shale gas production can help accelerate the transition to sustainability.

Keywords: sustainable, sustainability, sustainable development, shale, shale gas, climate, hydrofracturing, greenhouse gas emissions, land use

JEL Classification: K00, K10, K32, Q00, Q01, Q10, Q2, Q3, Q4