Noting that Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, launched the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) in June 2014 to promote universal energy access, increase the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and address the nexus between energy and health, women, food, water and other development issues,
Noting that the initial two years of the Decade would be focused on a campaign for energy access for women and children's health,
Acknowledging that the world faces an energy problem with shrinking resources and that natural gas, whose production is boosted by hydraulic fracturing or fracking, could be a means of building greener economies with newer, more efficient energy technologies,
Being aware that the methodologies used in fracking have often been dirty and environmentally harmful, many countries and states have called a moratorium on the practice,
THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN CALLS UPON ITS NATIONAL COUNCILS TO:
1. Strongly encourage their members to understand the sustainability, environmental and health issues associated with fracking;
2. Investigate if their country or state has regulations for fracking technology;
3. Advocate that their country or state minimise the risks associated with fracking through a strong regulatory framework and regular environmental monitoring to prevent degradation of air, water and health.
Notes:
Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is the process of drilling and injecting large amounts of water, sand and an array of chemicals into the ground at high pressure to fracture rock layers and to increase the extraction rate and recovery of fossil fuels. These techniques are increasingly being used on shale rocks to release natural gas. For much of the world the possibilities that fracking opens up for energy availability is very attractive and appears more environmentally friendly than other options.
Risks and concerns associated with fracking include: contamination of groundwater, methane and air pollution and its impact on climate change, exposure to toxic chemicals, blowouts due to gas explosion, waste disposal, large volume water use in water-deficient regions, fracking-induced earthquakes, workplace safety and infrastructure degradation.
These concerns have led to moratoriums on the practice in many states and countries. In other countries or states there is a push for tight regulations such as compelling drilling companies to disclose the nature, quantity and mix of chemicals used and a ban on deep well injection for the disposal of fracking waste water. Regulation is also necessary to safeguard the health and safety of well-head workers, farmers, communities and the environment.
Thus it is necessary to be aware of the advantages of more intensified energy production, without losing sight of the drawbacks of these new technologies, when they are applied indiscriminately and without prior regulations.
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Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — 34th General Assembly, Izmir, Republic of Turkey, May/June 2015. Resolution No. 5.
