|
Obama Administration's Approach Towards Fracking: Environmental Agenda As a Priority or Secondary Issue?
Povincová, Michaela ; Sehnálková, Jana (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
Hydraulic fracturing represents a significant part of the growing mining and oil industry. The most significant fracking expansion occurred during the period of Barack Obama, whose statements during his candidacy were directed against the oil industry. Based on this, environmental advocates expected Obama to seek to regulate fracking. Under the pressure, Obama was forced to take some steps against fracking, but they could not be so drastic as to create too much complication for the industry. The present work analyzes the steps and regulations adopted by the Obama administration, along with the reactions of supporters and opponents of fracking to the measures. Based on this analysis, the work points out that despite the Obama administration's efforts to introduce regulations to protect the biosphere and communities around fracking, the measures were insufficient and in some cases did not raise any standards for the oil industry. The work also found that due to the significant impact of fracking on the US economy, Barack Obama could not afford to set stricter regulations and in many cases combined the solution of environmental problems with economic solutions or with national security or energy independence. Based on this analysis, it can be concluded that the Obama administration has prioritized US...
|