Inputs for the European Commission’s public consultation on unconventional fossil fuels

Policy comments    |    22 March 2013

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European environmental legislation contains no provisions on the exploration and exploitation of unconventional fossil fuels, most notably shale gas. To establish these, the European Commission has conducted a public consultation on whether and under which conditions shale gas exploitation can be an acceptable practice and on the benefits and threats it brings with it. Other than detrimental environmental consequences, Bankwatch’s comments point out that shale gas remains a fossil fuel and should therefore be considered an unacceptable energy source as it would contradict the EU’s climate objectives.