The world has its eyes on the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26. taking place in glasgow, in scotland, it is an attempt to move more forcefully in the commitment to environmental preservation. This objective is particularly important if we consider that the last COP failed to build more ambitious goals.
The main objective of COP26 is the presentation of proposals and the determination of commitments on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global warming. In the long term what is intended is not to exceed 1.5° heating until 2100, as proposed in the Paris Agreement.
When we focus the analysis on the impact of human activity on the climate, we started to analyze more carefully the energy sources we use, with special emphasis on non-renewable sources. Coal enters as one of the great villains in this story, considering that it is a very polluting and less efficient energy source.
Oil and gas also appear on the list of sources that are becoming increasingly questionable. In this chapter, a source that is little mentioned but has serious impacts is shale gas (also known as unconventional gas). It is natural gas that is trapped inside a porous rock, known as clay shale. Its chemical composition is the same as that of petroleum, which makes it valuable as an energy source.
In addition to the issue related to the burning of shale gas, another environmental problem that appears is the result of its exploitation. Basically, hydraulic fracturing technology is used on farms, with the introduction of high pressure water, sand and chemicals (some toxic). One of the consequences of this exploration is the contamination of groundwater.
When we look at the environmental issue from a broader perspective, we realize that it is necessary to go beyond the search for reducing the impacts of global warming and also consider the environmental impacts of other formats.
To deepen this discussion and understand the environmental impacts and risks of shale gas exploration, I suggest reading the article “Shale gas in Brazil and in the world: perspectives and paradoxes of energy development", of Pedro da Silva.
https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/revistadaufmg/article/view/12640
