TOPIC AREA: FRACKING AS A POTENTIAL RISK
Background
Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a technique
that involves pumping a water- rich fluid into
a borehole until the fluid pressure at depth
causes the rock to fracture. After the job, the
pressure in the well is dropped and the water
containing released natural gas flows back to the
well head at the surface. Its fluid contains small
amounts of chemical additives such as acid to
help initiate fractures, corrosion and scale
inhibitors to protect the borehole lining and
gelling agents to alter the fluid viscosity.
It is commonly called unconventional because
the gas remains trapped within the source rock
and has not migrated from the source, while in
conventional gas extraction it is moved over
long periods of time and gathered in structural
gaps, hence no fracking is required to reach it.
In regards to the incentives countries or private
companies can face when deciding to implement
this technique, there are numerous to have in
mind. Some countries currently import but use
natural gas as an
energy source (having the infrastructure to
distribute it) have a lot to gain by implementing
independent unconventional gas development.
They may reduce dependency of natural gas
imports and strengthen their economy and
security. Others may have struggles to meet
their energy demands due to growth population
and rising living standards, seeing shale gas as
a strategic and practical value or have to keep up
with international environmental policies (ex.
China and Poland). In conclusion, many
countries may find the possibility of fracking
promising, however, relatively few have
actually begun the process of developing the
industry.
Fracking as an economic resource
The increase of energy prices around the world
is concerning each and every government on
how to provide energy to their citizens at
reasonable costs. In this global situation,
fracking has been shown as a solution to this
considering it allows getting to difficult-to-reach
sources of energy and increases domestic oil
and gas production. Also, it helps decrease the
need to import oil from other countries and
increasing the national GDP.
For example, the US has empowered and
improved their local oil and gas industry, and it
has driven down gas prices as well as increased
employment rates. As Daniel Yergin established
in the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of
the House Energy and Commerce Committee:
“Today, the industry supports 1.7 million jobs -
a
considerable added $62 billion to
accomplishment federal and state
given the relative government revenues,
newness of the a number that we
technology. That project could rise to
number could rise to about
3 million by 2020. In $113 billion by
2012, this revolution 2020.” All Americans
have experienced major concern around it. As stated
this benefits since worldwide on before, it has
within 5 years the fracking since health become a potential
US has saved is a critical element economic resource
around $13 billion in a country’s for countries which
per year because of development and have proven to have
the fracking effect bad practices on shale oil and shale
in gas bills, fracking may be gas resources.
enriching the hazardous for Nevertheless, as all
Americans’ citizens. But, in methods of
pockets. order to have a extracting oil it is
successful and associated with
As well as beneficial fracking, numerous risks. In
decreasing energy communities must relation to black
prices and consider the high shale (shales which
increasing oil and cost of the contain more than
gas production, technology required 1% organic
experts say that and develop the carbon), they
Statement of the
fracking can be a studies necessary to usually contain
means to a low problem
implement it. The elevated
carbon emissions importance of a well The use of concentrations of
future by the use of constructed and hydraulic pyrite, uranium and
natural gas as a maintained fracturing earth other heavy metals.
path to well infrastructure relies dates back to the As mentioned by
developed within the studies 1940s, but only in Dave Healy in
alternative energy made for the past few years Hydraulic
sources that replace implementation and has "fracking" has Fracturing or
oil and coal. the correct procedure become a topic of ‘Fracking’: A Short
However, even followed every time discussion, Summary of
though fracking has it’s being practiced, principally Current Knowledge
broad economic both of them being because of the and Potential
benefits, its key for the fracking shale gas boom in Environmental
infrastructure has a method’s success the United States Impacts, the
high cost if its well and all of the potential risks can
constructed and controversy be summarized in:
developed, taking
into account that if Earthquakes situ stress state and
a fracking site is induced by slip on change the propensity
not duly maintained nearby faults: of existing fractures
or established, it Fracking inherently to open or faults to
could have a highly involves slip, and possibly
negative effect on geomechanical risks result in seismic
the environment – i.e. the injection of activity (i.e.
and the health of large volumes of earthquakes).
the communities pressurised water at
depth will, by Contamination of
nearby. This is the
design, alter the in groundwater, and
possibly even not fracture the rock the fluid into other Leakage of
drinking water, volume around the open and contaminated
with natural gas bottom of the well as permeable drilling waste fluid
and other intended, then the pathways. from storage
chemicals: The elevated fluid ponds: local
potential risk to pressure will drive Emissions of extraction of water
groundwater comes volatile from small
from two sources: components, catchments could
the injected fluid such as CO2 or have an impact on
(water + chemical methane, into the ecology and
additives) and the the atmosphere: hydrology of rivers
released natural There is an in these areas.
gas. Other risks ongoing debate Finding sustainable
associated with about the relative sources for these
contamination of leakage rate of volumes of water
groundwater may methane into the is clearly a
include: overweight atmosphere from challenge, but
(or ‘overbalanced’) the exploitation of related
drilling mud shale gas in environmental
causing leakage of comparison to the impacts may also
drilling fluids from emission rate from develop from
the well bore into conventional gas. transporting water
near surface This is potentially to the drilling site
aquifers; important because from further afield:
contamination from a high leakage construction of
solid components in rate might mean new roads to
the shale entering that methane remote drilling sites
the flow back fluid; released by and increased heavy
poor cement jobs fracking road traffic and
on wellbore casing, operations into the pollution.
especially at atmosphere from
shallow depths. shale gas Other risks
extraction could to have in mind are
have a higher net those related to
greenhouse gas Workers and Public
footprint than, say, Safety, taking into
coal. Fracking consideration that
operators should the Occupational
therefore seek to Health and Safety
minimize all Administration
emissions to the (OHSA) of the
atmosphere, and United States has
monitoring released a hazard
Blowouts: If the processes need to alert to notify
fluid injected into be actively employees that
the well head does enforced. “respirable
crystalline silica disease where technological impacts that may
can lead to lung tissue improvements, hold the potential
silicosis, a lung around trapped others are not so crisis in the
silica particles much shakier sure. McLean also fracking industry,
reacts, causing financial footing identifies three those being:
inflammation and than most people
scarring and realize. Shalanda 1. A debt buildup
reduced ability to Helen Baker in a that she sees as
take in oxygen.” paper released by the being directly
OHSA says studies University of San linked to the
show that 47% of Francisco states last financial
air samples from three key features in crisis. After the
well sites are this subject: (1) last financial
greater than the private actors crisis, the
calculated OHSA engaged in difficult- Federal Reserve
permissible to-regulate activities, cut interest rates
exposure. With (2) involvement of to help the
regards to the latter, public goods, and economic
many roads may (3) creation of recovery, and
not be designed to systemic risk. When that enabled
carry tractor-trailers drawing together the the capital
that carry fracking financial crisis of intensive
equipment, 2008, the BP oil spill fracking
considering that of 2010 and fracking industry to raise
each of them shows that all three “massive sums
weighs more than share the common of capital.”
100,000 pounds. features of hybridity.
2. Pension funds
For instance, in
In the United States were no longer
small towns, roads
alone, exploration able to earn a
are not designed to
and production desirable rate of
support them.
companies saw their return on fixed-
A risk debt go from $50 income
disregarded by the billion in 2005 to instruments,
International $200 billion in 2015, they turned to
Community is the according to Amir private equity
possibility of Azar, fellow at firms and
Fracking as the Columbia’s Center hedge funds
Next Financial on Global Energy that invested in
Crisis. As Bethany Policy. Opinions on debt, which in
Mclean mentions in whether the industry turn provided
her Saudi America will find that debt is more capital to
book: [The significant in the fracking
fracking] industry comparison to the industry.
doesn’t make returns, while the
3. The fracking
money. It’s on “bulls” point to
industry has
 attracted The impact of the wells is prohibited shared
significant industry is anywhere. With the legisla
interest in the undeniable, with current approach by tion;
public capital the United States continent varies finally
markets as a reaching its from country to , there
high-growth highest levels of country. In Europe, is a
industry output in the last there are potential
relative to 14 years and the sites for shale gas
other expectation of extraction and
industries. growth to 44% fracking, with
Those growth between 2011 and Poland, France and
expectations 2040. Despite the Norway having the
ignore the risks mentioned, largest
possibility fracking is going accumulations; in
that the global. Countries the U.K. there were
profits including China, periods of
investors the United suspension by
expect might Kingdom and operators due to
not exist “in a South Africa are small earthquakes
more rational seeing shale related to it near
economic development as a Blackpool in 2011,
environment. way to unlock however, there is no
homegrown government ban;
CURRENT energy. The debate while France
around this is if decided to ban
SITUATIO worldwide fracking in May
N reserves 2011 in response to
pressure by
can be tapped fuel. environmental
safely, and whether groups; Poland has
the environmental A subject worth the largest reserves
damage from this highlighting is the of shale gas and is
method will current regulatory set
overcome the gains approach in different embark
of using a fuel countries. Currently, on
cleaner than oil or there is no evidence extensi
coal, but that still to suggest that ve
remained fossil fracking in offshore drilling
and

frackin
g
progra
mme,
with
specific
European Union sedimentary Colombia and technique while
Technical basins; lasty, Bolivia, both of looking forward to
Working Group South Africa has their ministers of studying its
on the regulation shale gas prospects hydrocarbons have potential within
of shale gas in the Karoo highlighted the their borders.
extraction, with Desert, with the benefits of the
its purpose being government Case Studies fracking bonanza that
to have and imposing is generating revenue
exchange of moratoriums on and jobs to a
United States of
views and fracking from time
depressed economy
information to time thanks to America:
across the EU. pressure from of the region.
At least four states
environmental of the US (Ohio, Beyond the general
The United groups.
States’ shale West Virginia, concerns over
exploration and Fracking advances Texas, fracking, new cracks
production is in Latin America Pennsylvania) that and holes have been
fully underway, have not been at a have nurtured the developing around a
with deregulation large scale but nation's energy sinkhole in recent
being set since could have boom, hundreds of years, and the
2005. In Asia, potential influence complaints have location of such are
Australia and through the been made about where a now-defunct
Africa shale gas countries well-water company obtained
prospects are implementing it or contamination from water for fracking
being evaluated looking favorably operations.
oil or gas drilling,
in Australia, upon it, those
specifically far being: Argentina, and pollution was
If the sinkhole should
from population Mexico, Colombia confirmed in a
collapse, the toll
centres where and Bolivia. number of them.
would surely be
impacts are Argentina was the In a more specific deadly and costly,
expected to be first country in with estimates of
note, Carlsbad, New
minimal; China Latin America to more than $1 billion
Mexico lies in the
has shale blocks apply this
northwest region of in economic loss, and
on offer from the technique, it taking
government, with place in Neuquén the Permian Basin. over $100 million for
the cost of and Río Negro; in in North America. clean-up.
producing Mexico, that The surrounding
Sichuan (China):
conventional technique is limestone caves
natural gas is present in 7 states, contain the remnants Two moderate-sized
cheap there, shale with the number of of fossil reefs that earthquakes that
gas remaining oils wells in were caused struck the southern
financially which fracking has sedimentation of a Sichuan Province of
unattractive to been used seabed has proved
investors; India increasing from rich in oil and
has several large 7,879 to 32,46424;
natural gas reserves,
onshore in the case of
and is now fueling a
China were December and is limited research about fracking and
probably caused January quakes related to the were unsure about
by nearby also coincided in public’s the advantages and
fracking time and space knowledge and the disadvantages
operations. The with injection at risk perceptions of of fracking or the
December 2018 nearby fracking fracking, and none health risks that
magnitude 5.7 well pads. whatsoever from could potentially be
and the January Researchers South Africa. caused by exposure
2019 magnitude believe that more to fracking. There
In Central Karoo,
5.3 earthquakes information is is little knowledge
a district, residents
in the South needed about on geological
lack information
Sichuan Basin faults and their information for the
caused extensive stress patterns in Karoo region where incentive to invest
damage to areas of the fracking has been and it makes the
farmhouses and Sichuan basin proposed, this means project decrease its
that potentially development each
dangerous faults in time even more.
the region may go
Nowadays, more than
undetected.
half of the
investments are from
Argentina: government-affiliated
entities, which is
There is a growing directly linked to the
concern on slow production of
Argentina’s Vaca the plan since it has
Muerta fracking plan not met its
other structures in surrounding since in order to development goals
the area, resulting fracking well pads, develop the yet.
in a direct to guide drilling in country’s energy
economic loss of a way that would markets, the On the other hand,
about 50 million avoid moderate government has Argentina is not
Chinese Yuan seismic activity. failed to guarantee meeting fracking’s
Renminbi the plan’s success to safety requirements
(roughly $US 7.5 the foreign investors, either, since
South Africa:
million). as well as providing
The South African the security needed
Wastewater government is for the extraction in
disposal and looking into order to avoid
fracking have fracking to reduce environmental
induced the country’s huge damage. There has
earthquakes in the reliance on coal been a decline on
south Sichuan for energy. There foreign partners
basin.The
Vaca Muerta’s Working through When addressing
infrastructure is the Sendai potential disaster
inadequate, as Framework for risks around the
well as transport Past Disaster Risk
world, the UNDRR
Reduction (2015-
and water supply Relevant 2030): chooses to work
which are through the Sendai
becoming a
Actions Framework for
liability for the Paris Agreement
government and
The UNDRR’s
communities
goal of complying
nearby that have
with the Paris
been protesting Agreement is in
and showing their part due to the fact
opposition to the that climate
project. But now, change is now a
it’s important to major multiplier of
ask ourselves: Is disaster losses
Vaca Muerta a worldwide. There
failed fracking has been a
project? doubling of
extreme weather
events in the last
twenty years
which have
experienced some
of the hottest years
on record. In fact,
a new report
published to mark
International Day
for Disaster
Reduction,
October 13, spells
out clearly that
91% of major
disaster events are
extreme weather
events and they
account for 77% of
the recorded
economic losses
from climate and
geophysical
events.6
Disaster Risk Increasing and data to measure
Reduction, improving: 5) progress are
endorsed by the UN National and local systematically
General Assembly, strategies with collected and
following the 2015 specific targets and analysed.
Third UN World indicators; 6)
Conference on International Support To
Disaster Risk cooperation; 7) Regional And
Reduction Access to early National Sendai
(WCDRR); being warning and risk Framework
considered the first assessment. Implementation:
major agreement of Relevant national
the post-2015 While working disaster loss and
development through three appropriate
agenda. With strategic disaggregated risk
seven targets, four objectives which data are generated,
guide its work and disaster risk
strategic objectives from 2016
and two knowledge and
through to 20218:
policy guidance are
Strengthen made available for
Global risk-informed
Monitoring, decision-making;
Analysis And regional
Coordination Of coordination and
Sendai accountability
Framework mechanisms are
Implementation: successfully
achieving global delivered and
coordination and leveraged.
accountability
Catalyse Action
mechanisms that
Through Member
are successfully
States And
delivered and
Partners: reaching
leveraged, on-
coherence of
going
international and
Seven global intergovernmental
regional advocacy
targets: support is
for disaster risk
provided, and risk
reduction,
Substantially knowledge and
sustainable
reduce: 1) The loss
of lives; 2) development and knowledge and
Numbers of climate change evidence; the on-
affected people; 3) action; strong going provision of
Economic loss; 4) partnerships for the intergovernmental
Damage to critical generation and support; and active
infrastructure. application of risk and accountable
contribution to risk reduction. In Sustainable implementing the
disaster risk addition, effective Development Sendai Framework,
reduction from all communication and Goals is shared through
stakeholders, global advocacy the High-level
including the campaigns ensure In the Sustainable Political Forum and
private sector, civil stakeholder Development
society and engagement and
community groups, consolidate
science and UNDRR’s track-
technology record of excellence
partners, across the three
parliamentarians Strategic Objectives.
and key decision-
makers. Enabler 2

Two Enablers Strengthened

support UNDRR’s Organizational
work across the Performance:
three Strategic Appropriate,
Objectives, the sustainable and
geographical predictable financial Global Platform for
resource base, and Goals (SDGs) in Disaster Risk
regions and at all particular, disaster
levels: enhanced Reduction
operational risk reduction and respectively. As a
Enabler 1 performance based resilience are reflection of this,
on appropriate reflected in 25 important synergies
Effective gender-sensitive targets and in 10 exist between
Knowledge structure and of the 17 goals. reporting on the
Management, staffing. Both areas When related to two frameworks,
Communication will support the Sendai specifically by SDG
And Global enhanced Framework (the 9.
Advocacy: the performance across core of the
UNDRR achieves the three Strategic UNDRR), their
In order to keep the
major impact in Objectives. desired outcomes
world’s living
knowledge are a product of
standards at its
generation and complex and
highest while the
uptake, based on interconnected
world’s fossil fuel
data collection and social and
resources are in
risk analysis, economic
decline with
disaggregated by processes with
unstable prices, the
gender, age and overlap across the
search for new
disability, and is two agendas.
sources of fossil
recognised and Progress in
and renewable
respected for its achieving the SDG
energy has been
role as knowledge targets related to
significant to keep
leader, broker and disaster risk
up with energy
convener in disaster reduction and in
requirements. As studied in commissions have
According to the dependent on the 2015, there are 46 given their
Council of organic materials in countries around considerations on
Canadian it, in fine-grained the world which shale gas and
Academies, It has shale formations have technically fracking. For
been found that where there is recoverable shale example, The
many countries limited oxygen oil and shale gas United Nations
have abundant available, the resources. The top Environment
resources of fossil organic material is 10 countries Programme’s
fuel in the form of not fully included within (UNEP) Executive
natural gas trapped decomposed but it those being China, Director, Achim
within tight shale creates an organic Argentina, Steiner, expressed
formations deep “sludge”; this Algeria, United his concern on how
underground and creates kerogen. States, Canada, using this
due to recent When kerogen lies Mexico, Australia, technology may
technological deep beneath the South Africa, stand in the way of
advances, these are surface where the Russia and Brazil. the renewable
now economically temperature and energy transition in
viable. States and pressure is adequate the near future and
Fracking and recommended
private companies a process begins
have used which creates oil the United governments to use
horizontal drilling and gas. Nations it as a means to
in combination with conduct their
high- volume When the fine grain This topic has countries to low-
hydraulic fracturing and tightness of the been very carbon energy
(also known as shale permits for no controversial in sources that aren’t
fracking) to extract structural gaps and the UN because of harmful to the
these resources of disallows oil or the comparison environment. This
natural gas within natural gas to between its issue has evolved to
shale formations. migrate, it becomes economic benefits a human rights
trapped where it was and the situation
Shale is the most created in tiny pores environmental considering the
common within the rock. implications it has declaration of UN
sedimentary rock These formations are because of the Committee on
and was formed by in most cases thick, amount of water Economic, Social
the compaction of regionally extended required, the air and Cultural Rights
silt and clay-sized and at depths pollution it may of cases such as the
mineral particles varying from 600- produce because Vaca Muerta shale
over great periods 4000m below of the natural gas formation in
of time. Some surface, making it release and the Argentina, where
shales have specific necessary to use earthquake risk they recommended
properties which fracking and these that increases by that in order to
can make them an depths in the process the high pressure protect people’s
important and of acquiring these application on the rights, the
useful resource.10 resources. shale rock layers. government had to
Its presence is Some UN make scientific
research and the right materials but exist, regulations
studies on the and infrastructure, wat and implications
implementation, make prior er and capital required
they shall have use for the
consultation to the measures to reduce sinc infrastructure’s
communities and global warming e development and
then warn from the significantly. The tons maintenance, as
effects, and protect UN Conference on of well as the research
the environment Trade and wat and prior consent of
from the Development er communities
consequences. The specified in their are nearby. It clear how
committee report how use the UN has mixed
highlighted how seismicity risks and d statements on the
fracking was a water contamination for subject, but is
threat to human produced by frac fracking really a
rights and if it was fracking are very kin threat or is it truly a
being developed, it low and how shale g means to a green
had to be carefully. gas can and future?
significantly reduce it
Last year, the UN CO2 emissions by cou Other past
Conference on replacing coal-fired ld initiatives and
Trade and power plants with be actions by the
Development natural gas extracted neg UNDRR when
(UNCTAD) shared from fracking. ativ thinking about
a more positive e possible solutions
opinion on fracking for to the topic are the
seeing it as a very the following:
useful bridge The env
towards an rep iron 2018 Technical
environmentally- ort me Forum: an
friendlyfuture. hig nt opportunity to
Nevertheless, hlig in review the
others say fracking hts a significant progress
can be even more how short-term future. made so far in the
harmful than the Countries must monitoring and
conventional oil wat evaluate the diverse reporting of the
and gas extraction er geological implementation of
and exploitation. cont formations that may the Sendai
The UN’s general ami Framework, and
position on fracking nati also on the
supports itself on on coherence of
the Paris isn’ actions with the
Agreement and the t the 2030 Agenda for
commitment pro Sustainable
countries made on ble Development as
applying ambitious m, well as the Paris
Agreement. UNISDR Strategic can submit content Role Model Cities:
Framework 2016- to PreventionWeb, “Role Model
Sendai 2021 and the as well as syndicate
Framework Cities” are cities,
UNISDR Work PreventionWeb municipalities or
Monitor: collects Programme 2016- content to their own
comprehensive local governments
2019 and its websites. The that are
data on disaster Results website is updated
losses through an participating in the
Frameworks. daily and contains Campaign and have
online tool that DRR news, events,
will capture data Global Assessment demonstrated good
online discussions, practices and
on achieving the Report: The contact directories,
targets of the Global Assessment innovation in DRR
policy documents, and resilience.
Sendai Report on Disaster reference
Framework for Risk Reduction documents, training International Day
Disaster Risk (GAR) is the and academic for Disaster
Reduction United Nation’s programmes, jobs, Reduction started in
(DRR).48 biennial global terminology, and 1989 with the
review and country information, approval by the
Annual Report: analysis of the as well as audio and United Nations
overviews results natural hazards video content. General Assembly.
achieved towards that are affecting
the reduction of The UN General
humanity. The Making Cities Assembly sees the
disaster risk and GAR monitors Resilient: addresses
losses, including IDDR as a way to
risk patterns and issues of local promote a global
under the trends governance and culture of disaster
and progress in Prevention Web: urban risk while reduction, including
disaster risk provides a common drawing upon disaster prevention,
reduction while platform for previous UNISDR mitigation and
providing strategic institutions to Campaigns on safer preparedness. It
policy guidance to connect, exchange schools and encourages every
countries and the experiences and hospitals, as well as citizen and
international share information on the sustainable government to take
community. about DRR. Readers urbanizations part in building
principles developed more disaster
in the UN-Habitat resilient
World Urban communities and
Campaign 2009- nations. Originally
2013. celebrated on the
second Wednesday
of October, the UN
General Assembly
decided to
designate October
13 as the date to
celebrate the IDDR.
UN Sasakawa Sasakawa study of public – United Nations
Award: The Environment health during Conference on
United Nations Prize, the United mass Trade and
Sasakawa Award Nations Sasakawa emergencies, Development
for Disaster Award for Disaster includingthe
Reduction is Reduction is one epidemiology – Climate Action
awarded to an of three of diseases, Network
individual or prestigious prizes plus the
institutions that established in structural and – Brookings
have taken active 1986 by founding socio- Institution
efforts in Chairman of the economic
– RAND
reducing disaster Nippon impacts of
Corporation
risk in their Foundation, Mr. natural and
communities and Ryoichi Sasakawa. technological – Columbia
advocates for disasters and Centre on
disaster risk Relevant human Global Energy
reduction. conflicts. Policy
Together with the Partnerships
World Health – SDGs
When discussing Monitoring
Organization
partnerships which Unit of the UN
Sasakawa Health
can be of Statistical
Prize and the UN assistance to the
Environment Division
UNDRR in
Programme addressing – Inter-Agency
the risks brought comprehensiv and Expert
by fracking, there e data on the Group on
SDG Indicators
are those which occurrence
(IAEG-SDGs)
have been their and effects of
traditional allies in more than – UN Sustainable
any subject they 23,000 Development
tackle, those technological Group
being: and natural
disasters from – UN Senior
– United 1900 to the Leadership
Nations present day. Group on DRR
Development
Programme – CRED: The – While there are
Centre for those related
– EM-DAT: Research on specifically to
CRED’s the fracking,
Emergency Epidemiology which can be:
Events of Disasters
Database (CRED) is the
(EM-DAT) world’s
contains the foremost
world’s most agency for the
QUESTIONS A RESOLUTION MUST ANSWER
(QARMAS)

Throughout the conference, we look forward to getting to know your proposals not only in your
Working Papers and Draft Resolutions, but in debate and considering the following questions:
How can the UNDRR apply the Sendai Framework when addressing fracking as a potential risk
disaster? Can the global targets be further achieved by deterring risk in countries implementing this
technique?
Do the economic benefits of fracking outweigh the risks incurred when applying this technique? If they
do, how can the UNDRR make fracking be accepted in countries against it?
Is the implementation of fracking a potential cause of economic growth in developing countries? If so,
should the UNDRR assist them in doing so?
How can the UNDRR assist countries implementing fracking in risk-management? Which partnerships
are to take into consideration?

What is the role of countries which have no possibilities of carrying out this technique, but can be
affected through other aspects (economic bubble, earthquakes, rise or fall in oil prices, etc.)?
Should there be an international regulation on hydraulic fracturing? Is a ban on fracking a plausibility in
this current situation?
In case of any of the risks mentioned in the study guide becoming a reality, specifically those that can
affect the international community as a whole (the financial crisis, for example), which should be the
response of the UNDRR and the United Nations System?