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Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
Brussels – June 7th 2013
Project under Framework Contract for economic analysis ENV.F.1/FRA/2010/0044
Consortium co-ordinator: Institute for Environmental Studies
Project leader: BIO Intelligence Service
European Commission DG Environment
Context of the public consultation
2Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
The public consultation on unconventional fossil fuels (e.g shale gas) was launched on 20 December 2012 and closed on 23 March 2013
The context of the public consultation is the preparation of the impact assessment of the “Environmental, Climate and Energy Assessment Framework to Enable Safe and Secure Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction” initiative.
This analysis provides an understanding of the views on opportunities and challenges and possible ways to address the challenges associated with unconventional fossil fuels (e.g shale gas) extraction expressed by citizens, organisations and authorities across the EU (and beyond) through the public consultation.
Number and origin of respondents
3Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
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Number of individual respondents
22,875 respondents: 22,122 responses from individuals Most respondents are from Poland, France, Romania, Spain and Germany
Types of responding organisations
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783 respondents covering 696 organisations: 666 responses on behalf of 614 institutions gathering various types of stakeholders 87 responses on behalf of 82 public authorities
Academic institutions
Companies
Environmental and social NGOS
Industry and trade associations
Intergovernmental organisations
National authorities
Regional or local authorities
Others
Distribution of respondents according to the type of organisationsthey represent
Analysis of the questions
5Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
Methodology for analysis of the results
Descriptive statistics provided for each section of the questionnaire
Analysis of correlations between responses
There is no double counting of organisations, but also no deletion of different responses: If there are several respondents from the same organisation, all their answers are
accounted for, but each organisation has a weight of one On-going analysis of open questions – random sampling of answers for
individual respondents
For some questions, analysis of what the results would have been if participation had been more even across countries (in the report) Weighted averages statistics, only provided in parallel to direct averages, not
replacing them
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Key messages gathered
Three groups of respondents Respondents in favour of the development of unconventional fossil fuels,
identifying many potential benefits. Respondents that think that strict environmental and health safeguards should be
put in place, more likely to want a regulation at the EU level. Respondents against, identifying many potential challenges, with some of them
wanting a ban of unconventional fossil fuels in all the EU.
However, a large majority of respondents agree on the lack of adequate legislation, the need for public information and the lack of public acceptance of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g shale gas)
Among the policy options, “doing nothing at EU level” is the least favoured option by the majority of respondents
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
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Opinion of individuals from EU Member States about the development of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
Weighted by population*
Should not be developed in Europe at all
Should be developed in Europe only if proper health and environmental safeguards are in placeShould be developed in Europe anyway
No opinion
*under the assumption that each respondent would represent an equal share of the population of his country of residence.
0%
10%
20%
30%
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Total EU
I – Opinion of respondents about unconventional fossil fuels (1/4)
I – Opinion of respondents about unconventional fossil fuels (2/4)
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Opinion of individuals about the development of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe by country of residence (share of respondents)
Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Should be developed in Europe anyway
Should be developed in Europe only if proper health and environmental safeguards are in place
Should not be developed in Europe at all
No opinion
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Opinion of organisations about the development of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe by type of organisations
Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Academic institutions (17)
Companies (216)
Environmental and social NGOs
(226)
Industry and trade
associations (74)
Inter-governmental organisations
(5.33)
National authorities (13)
Regional and local authorities
(68)
Others (75.7) All organisations (965)
Should be developed in Europe anyway
Should be developed in Europe only if proper health and environmental safeguards are in place
Should not be developed in Europe at all
No opinion
I – Opinion of respondents about unconventional fossil fuels (3/4)
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Opinion of companies and trade and industry associations about the development of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe by sector and by size (for companies only)
Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Oil and gas (53) Other companies and trade and industry associations (237)
Should be developed in Europe anyway
Should be developed in Europe only if proper health and environmental safeguards are in place
Should not be developed in Europe at all
No opinion
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Big companies (61) SMEs (155)
Should be developed in Europe anyway
Should be developed in Europe only if proper health and environmental safeguards are in place
Should not be developed in Europe at all
No opinion
I – Opinion of respondents about unconventional fossil fuels (4/4)
II – Benefits of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (1/3)
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Share of individual respondents from EU countries stating that a potential benefit could be major or significant according to the potential benefit
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
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Average share of potential benefits considered as major or significant by type of organisations from EU countries
Presentation of the results of the public consultation “Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe”
II – Benefits of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (2/3)
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Main themes appearing in the answers to the open-ended question on additional benefits
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
Potential benefits for EU economy (reducing cost of implementation of EU climate policy, local development, scientific development)
Potential benefits for EU industry (reindustrialisation, chemical industry, natural gas vehicles, etc.)
Potential benefits for innovations in technology (Development of new extraction and drilling methods)
Potential benefits for energy security and access to energy (energy poverty, energy security, etc.)
II – Benefits of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (3/3)
III – Challenges of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (1/3)
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Share of respondents from EU countries stating that each issue could lead to major or significant challenge
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
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Average share of potential challenges considered as major or significant by type of organisation from EU countries
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
III – Challenges of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (2/3)
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Main themes appearing in the answers to the open-ended question on additional challenges
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
Potential legal and political failures (inconsistency in application of existing EU legislation)
Risk of conflicts (eg with third countries)
Potential land and soil issues (e.g. reduction of agricultural and breeding lands)
Potential lack in technology knowledge (insufficient knowledge on consequences from the hydraulic fracturing process)
Potential long term issues (rehabilitation of the site after cessation of the activity, risks for local populations)
III – Challenges of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (3/3)
IV – Recommended measures to avoid or minimise challenges of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (1/3)
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Strong support for all the measures proposed to avoid or minimise the challenges
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
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Average share of measures considered as very important or important by type of organisations
On this question, no difference was found between oil and gas and other companies
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
IV – Recommended measures to avoid or minimise challenges of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (2/3)
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Main themes appearing in the answers to the open-ended question on additional measures
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
Legal options to be implemented (e.g. prohibit exploitation where drinking water is extracted, high level of law enforcement)
Information needs (evaluate risks and benefits, closely monitor exploration areas)
Technological standards to be implemented (develop industry standards)
Innovation needs (innovative alternative exploitation methods)
IV – Recommended measures to avoid or minimise challenges of unconventional fossil fuels as identified by respondents (3/3)
V – Readiness of respondents to change their opinion about unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas)
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Readiness of respondents to change their opinion about unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) development if measures were implemented
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Individuals from EU (21954) Organisations (694)
I don't know
No
Maybe
Yes
Answers from individual respondents on policy options to address the identified challenges and risks at EU level
VI – Preferences for potential policy options (1/2)
21Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Do nothing, the current framework is appropriate
Develop information exchange, guidance on
best practices and encourage voluntary approaches by the
industry
Clarify existing EU legislation through
guidelines
Adapt individual pieces of existing EU legislation
Develop a comprehensive and specific EU piece of
legislation for unconventional fossil fuels (eg shale gas)
Yes Maybe No I don't know
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Answers from all organisations on policy options to address the identified challenges and risks at EU level
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Do nothing, the current framework is appropriate
Develop information exchange, guidance on
best practices and encourage voluntary approaches by the
industry
Clarify existing EU legislation through
guidelines
Adapt individual pieces of existing EU legislation
Develop a comprehensive and specific EU piece of
legislation for unconventional fossil fuels (eg shale gas)
Yes Maybe No I don't know
VI – Preferences for potential policy options (2/2)
VII – Importance of availability of information on unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) activities in Europe
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A very large majority of respondents considered that information needs were important or very important
Information on planned developments
Information about operators, their licences and permits
Baseline data (e.g. data on water and air quality prior to operations)
Operational data (e.g. volumes of water used; chemical additives used)
Information on incidents associated with exploration and extraction
Information on potential risks associated exploration and extraction
Information on potential benefits
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
VIII – Opinion about role of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in achieving EU resource efficiency and low carbon economy objectives
(1/2)
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Opinion of individual respondents from EU Member States about role of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in achieving EU resource efficiency and low carbon economy objectives
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
d by population*
I don't know
No
Yes only if proper health and environmental safeguards and additional policies Yes only if proper health and environmental safeguards in place
Yes whatever the conditions of development
*under the assumption that each institution would represent an equal share of the population of its country of residence.0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Total EU
25
Opinion of organisations about role of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in achieving EU resource efficiency and low carbon economy objectives by type of organisation
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Academic institutions (17)
Companies (216)
Environmental or social NGOs
(226)
Industry and trade
associations (73)
Inter-governmental
organisations (5)
National authorities (13)
Regional and local authorities
(68)
Others (76) All organisations (694)
Yes whatever the conditions Yes if safeguards Yes if safeguards and policies No I don't know
VIII – Opinion about role of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in achieving EU resource efficiency and low carbon economy objectives
(2/2)
Contact
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• Shailendra [email protected]
• François [email protected]
• Lorcan [email protected]
• Lidia [email protected]
Contacts
I – Overall opinion of individual respondents about unconventional fossilfuels (1/4)
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Opinion of individuals from EU Member States about the development of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Total EU Weighted by population*
Should not be developed in Europe at all
Should be developed in Europe only if proper health and environmental safeguards are in placeShould be developed in Europe anyway
No opinion
*Responses received from each country were weighted by its share of the EU population.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Do nothing, the current framework is appropriate
Develop information exchange, guidance on best practices and encourage voluntary approaches by the industry
Clarify existing EU legislation through guidelines
Adapt individual pieces of existing EU legislation
Develop a comprehensive and specific EU piece of legislation for unconventional fossil fuels (eg shale gas)
Yes Maybe No I don't know
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Do nothing, the current framework is appropriate
Develop information exchange, guidance on best practices and encourage voluntary approaches by the industry
Clarify existing EU legislation through guidelines
Adapt individual pieces of existing EU legislation
Develop a comprehensive and specific EU piece of legislation for unconventional fossil fuels (eg shale gas)
VI – Preferences for potential policy options (1/3)
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Answers from individual respondents on policy options to address the identified challenges and risks at EU level
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
Weighted by population
VIII – Opinion about role of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in achieving EU resource efficiency and low carbon economy objectives
(1/2)
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Opinion of individual respondents from EU Member States about role of unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in achieving EU resource efficiency and low carbon economy objectives
Presentation of the results of the public consultation « Unconventional fossil fuels (e.g. shale gas) in Europe »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Total EU (21951) Weighted by population*
I don't know
No
Yes only if proper health and environmental safeguards and additional policies Yes only if proper health and environmental safeguards in place
Yes whatever the conditions of development
*Responses received from each country were weighted by its share of the EU population.