The Human and Environmental Impact of Fracking: How Fracturing Shale for Gas Affects Us and Our World

Abstract

Looking back in time, it is clear that petroleum (oil) and gas were crucialfor the development and maintenance of an industrial civilization, and this has not changed appreciably over the decades. By the early 20th century, petroleum was the most valuable commodity traded on world markets. Today, both oil and gas are vital to many industries and account fora large percentage of the world’s energy consumption. Wars have been fought, fortunes made (and lost), geopolitical alliances forged, and places transformed by the newfound wealth and political power conferred by oil and gas. Both are vital to many industries and account for a large percentage of the world’s energy consumption. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the search for new means of extracting oil and gas from the earth has assumed huge importance not only in the United States but around the world.