Framing Sustainability Questions - Marcellus Shale Development Impacts
The presentation explores the game-changing impacts of Marcellus Shale development on the U.S. and the world, discussing energy security, the economy, and the policy frame of sustainability. It delves into the key principles of sustainable development and contrasts it with conventional development, highlighting the need for integrated decision-making, the polluter-pays principle, and intergenerational equity. The meaning of sustainability in Marcellus Shale development is examined, touching upon various sustainability initiatives in different sectors. Overall, the focus is on understanding the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development in the context of Marcellus Shale.
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Presentation Transcript
Framing the sustainability questions John Dernbach Widener University Law School September 27, 2013 1
Starting Points Marcellus Shale development is having game changing impacts on U.S. and the world: Energy Security Economy Pennsylvania is at the epicenter : "We literally have the Saudi Arabia of natural gas under our feet." Michael Krancer The Grand Experiment in Pennsylvania will be highly instructive. Vikram Rao 2
Sustainability as a policy frame Marcellus Shale has also attracted strong supporters and opponents Josh Fox: I don t see a middle ground. Could sustainable development be the middle ground? 3
The iconic definition Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future (1987) 5
Conventional Development PROGRESS: --Peace & security --Economic Development --Social Development/ Healthy Communities PRICE OF PROGRESS: --Environment & Natural Resources --Living people who are harmed --Future generations that are harmed 6
Sustainable Development PROGRESS: --Peace & security --Economic development --Social development/healthy communities --Environmental protection/restoration 7
Key principles Integrated decision-making Polluter-pays principle Precautionary approach Intergenerational equity Public participation and access to information and justice 8
Meaning of sustainability for Marcellus Shale development has not been worked out in great detail Contrast: Green building Sustainable forestry Corporate sustainability reporting Sustainability in colleges and universities Community sustainability Hopeful sign: Center for Sustainable Shale Development 9
Questions for this conference What have we learned from Pennsylvania s experience to date about the role of law in fostering sustainability of shale gas production? What new or modified laws and policies are needed so that hydraulic fracturing for shale gas contributes to a sustainable future? What does this mean for other states and nations? 10
This conference will: Employ sustainability as a normative frame to evaluate Marcellus Shale development. Provide information, ideas, and recommendations that can be used to answer these questions. Identify issues that, if unresolved, pose a challenge to the sustainability of shale gas. Contribute (hopefully) to a serious and constructive public conversation about how shale gas production can be made more sustainable. Test the proposition that sustainability can provide middle ground in the debate about shale gas. 11
This conference will not: Categorically endorse Marcellus Shale development. Categorically oppose Marcellus Shale development. Simply describe relevant law. 12
Sustainability lessons from Pennsylvania are important: Pennsylvania provides a real-world context for understanding what sustainability means for shale gas development To some degree, future of shale gas depends on this experience: other states/countries are looking at Pennsylvania in deciding whether to proceed. Pennsylvania also tests whether all negative impacts from shale gas are inherent, and whether some or all of them can be corrected . 13
Five (somewhat overlapping) panels after this one Public health Environmental sustainability Community sustainability Governance for sustainability Energy, climate change, and ethics 14
Remainder of this panel: setting the stage Diana Stares sustainability issues with shale gas James May overview of shale gas law and technology Scott Perry Pennsylvania s environmental regulatory experience with shale gas 15
