Are we going to bear energy scarcity with “energy diplomacy” or with innovation?

#9 SDG Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure

In the past, the lack of resources to produce energy on their own territories has made industrial nations dependent on oil and gas exporting countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia. However, if we take a closer look into scientific data UK, USA or Canadapossibly are also doing a good job in terms of (un-)sustainable development.

Indeed this resulted in them using energy diplomacy as a powerful “weapon” which strengthen their position. The ability to operate hydraulic fracturing in Europe and South America offers industrial nations more independence often it is said that energy scarcity is a potential driver of global conflicts, considering that can fracking contribute to peacekeeping?

According to EurostatEurope’s energy demand is rising rapidly in order to deal with this demand with the prospect of energy scarcity there are “innovative attempts”: I took a particular attention to hydraulic fracturing, as it has gained much support in the past years. Maybe because there is no other alternative? Is there enough investment put in to research of renewables?(xii,Par. 2)  Is the development of renewables strongly supported by the EU?

On this account there are supporters of fracking argue that the carbon footprint of natural gas is smaller than that of coal? Is fracking a good idea? How long are we going to use coal in Europe, if on the other hand goals are set like SDG´s, 2030..? Unfortunately I want to point out: that there where also some goals set in the past which were not really successfully realized and achieved as planned. (e.g. Kyoto Protocol, Rio 1992, Copenhagen Climate Summit 2009).  Are we going to challenge and realize up coming ones? Nevertheless, it is out of the question that in a environmental prospective fracking has a tremendous harmful effects on climate, nature, humans (e.g. pollution of ground and drinking water).

“Compassion in action may be the glorious possibility that could protect our crowded, polluted planet…” 

Victoria Moran