Over 700 Global Organizations Ask Ireland to Introduce a United Nations Resolution for a Ban on Fracking Press Release by International Frac Ban Coalition, July 15, 2021
DUBLIN, IRELAND — An international coalition of advocates, physicians and scientists have mobilized global support in asking Ireland to introduce a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly entitled “Ban on the use of hydraulic fracturing/fracking to extract fossil fuels from the ground.” The draft resolution highlights the urgency with which the human rights, climate, environmental and public-health impacts of fracking must be confronted.
The request for Ireland to introduce the resolution is backed by over 700 international environmental organizations, impacted frontline community groups and climate leaders including Jane Fonda, Mark Ruffalo, Bill McKibben and other high profile figures in Ireland including celebrity entertainer, Keith Barry. More than 100 Irish groups have also signed on.
A letter was presented to Irish government leaders and UN Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, urging Ireland to continue its role as a courageous world leader and champion of meaningful climate action. The introduction of the resolution would represent another step in Ireland’s efforts to reject fracked gas in recognition of the fact that reaching our climate goals is impossible with the continuation of fracking operations, infrastructure expansion and waste disposal.
“A global ban on fracking will improve public health and safety everywhere, not just in communities that have been damaged and scarred by unconventional oil and gas operations,” said Edward Ketyer, M.D., pediatrician and president-elect of Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania. “Negative health effects from fracking — complications of pregnancy and poor birth outcomes, damage to the heart and lungs, mental health impacts, cancer — will all be reduced as a result of a global fracking ban”, added Sandra Steingraber, Senior Scientist at the Science and Environmental Health Network, and co-founder of Concerned Health Professionals of New York.
Researchers at the Irish Centre for Human Rights have also found fracking to be incompatible with human rights and that the dangers posed by fracking cannot be mitigated through regulation.
“The process of fracking involves widespread human rights violations, a point repeatedly highlighted by UN legal experts,” stated Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Director of the Human Rights Law Clinic at the National University of Ireland Galway. “Ireland made the right decision to ban fracking in 2017, and now we have the opportunity to lead the world in ensuring that all communities and our global ecosystem are protected from this toxic and dangerous process.”
“By introducing this resolution, Ireland will express solidarity and empathy with communities in Pennsylvania, Texas, Northern Ireland, Namibia, Botswana, Argentina and worldwide that are harmed and threatened by the destructive process of fracking,” stated Andy Gheorghiu, Campaigner and Consultant for Climate Protection and Energy Policy.
Irish world renowned magician and entertainer Keith Barry added his voice to the campaign.
“I am delighted to have signed up to this and stand with friend Mark Ruffalo, and Jane Fonda who I’ve always admired for their ongoing incredible work to highlight the risks of fracking on that side of the pond. I was proud when Ireland took its part and banned fracking. This is an incredible opportunity, and I want us to lead again. Poorer countries depend on us. We’ve been there. This would be an incredible achievement if Ireland were to lead the way on a global ban. Let’s do this.”
Once the resolution is introduced to the UN General Assembly, it would need a simple majority vote to pass. The coalition believes there will be support for the resolution given the large number of UN Member States that are highly vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise, as well as recent calls by the UN to address climate change and implement the Sustainable Development Goals, the spirit of which runs contrary to fracking. A UN resolution in favor of a global ban on fracking would set a high bar for ambitious existential results at the COP26 in Glasgow.
The movement to engage the United Nations in calling for a global ban on fracking began in 2019 with a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres that was signed by over 450 international organizations and individuals. The letter resulted in the development of a draft resolution and a call for Ireland to take the lead as the partner from the Global North to introduce the resolution to the General Assembly.
The coalition that launched this effort in 2019 includes:
– Sandra Steingraber, Senior Scientist, Science and Environmental Health Network, Co-founder, Concerned Health Professionals of New York, USA,
– Michele Fetting, Program Director, Breathe Project, Pennsylvania, USA
– Andy Gheorghiu, Campaigner and Consultant, Climate Protection and Energy Policy, Germany/International
– Scott Edwards, Esq., Environmental Attorney and Consultant, New York, USA
– Edward C. Ketyer, M.D., F.A.A.P., Physicians for Social Responsibility, USA
– Claudia Campero, Environmental Justice Activist, Mexico,
– Lois Bower-Bjornson, Impacted resident from Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA
– Eddie Mitchell, Campaigner, Love Leitrim, Ireland
Refer also to:
Government of Ireland Statement on Importation of Frac’d Gas
European Court of Justice rules against regulator for approving USA New Fortress Energy’s frac’d gas import terminal in Ireland; All permits and permissions for Shannon LNG to be quashed. Bravo to Friends of Irish Environment and its unstoppable legal team of James Devlin, John Kenny and Fred Logue (unlike Ernst’s quitting lying lawyers, Murray Klippenstein and Cory Wanless, and Canada’s lying top court pissing on the Charter to enable law-violating AER).
Jessica Ernst Submission to “No Fracking Fermanagh” (Northern Ireland) Petition
Republic of Ireland: President Michael Higgins signs bill making fracking illegal!