A Dilemma of Abundance: Governance Challenges of Reconciling Shale Gas Development and Climate Change Mitigation

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dc.contributor.authorStephenson, Eleanor
dc.contributor.authorShaw, Karena
dc.date.accessioned2020-10-09T18:10:13Z
dc.date.available2020-10-09T18:10:13Z
dc.date.copyright2013en_US
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractShale gas proponents argue this unconventional fossil fuel offers a ―bridge‖ towards a cleaner energy system by offsetting higher-carbon fuels such as coal. The technical feasibility of reconciling shale gas development with climate action remains contested. However, we here argue that governance challenges are both more pressing and more profound. Reconciling shale gas and climate action requires institutions capable of responding effectively to uncertainty; intervening to mandate emissions reductions and internalize costs to industry; and managing the energy system strategically towards a lower carbon future. Such policy measures prove challenging, particularly in jurisdictions that stand to benefit economically from unconventional fuels. We illustrate this dilemma through a case study of shale gas development in British Columbia, Canada, a global leader on climate policy that is nonetheless struggling to manage gas development for mitigation. The BC case is indicative of the constraints jurisdictions face both to reconcile gas development and climate action, and to manage the industry adequately to achieve social licence and minimize resistance. More broadly, the case attests to the magnitude of change required to transform our energy systems to mitigate climate change.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors would like to thank Kate Garvie, Matthew Paterson, and especially Lindsay Monk for their help with this paper, and two anonymous reviewers for their very constructive feedback. Financial support for this research was provided by Carbon Management Canada.en_US
dc.identifier.citationStephenson, E., & Shaw, K. (2013). A Dilemma of Abundance: Governance Challenges of Reconciling Shale Gas Development and Climate Change Mitigation. Sustainability, 5(5), 2210-2232. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5052210.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3390/su5052210
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/12189
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherSustainabilityen_US
dc.subjectclimate change
dc.subjectshale gas
dc.subjectenergy systems
dc.subjectregulation
dc.subjectgovernance
dc.subject.departmentSchool of Environmental Studies
dc.titleA Dilemma of Abundance: Governance Challenges of Reconciling Shale Gas Development and Climate Change Mitigationen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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