Weighing the Price of Progress
The Fragile Balance of Economy, Society, and Environment in Unconventional Energy Extraction
Keywords:
Unconventional Energy , Energy Security , Externalities , Extractive Economics , Ecological Integrity , Social ConflictAbstract
The global energy paradigm shift from conventional to unconventional resources has ignited a profound debate on sustainability. This article explores the complexities of extracting unconventional energy such as shale gas, geothermal, and coal-bed methane within the framework of the three pillars of sustainable development: economic viability, social equity, and environmental integrity. Through a critical lens, it is argued that the rapid advancement of extraction technologies often outpaces regulatory frameworks and socio-ecological safeguards. This "fragile balance" is analyzed through the phenomena of negative externalities, agrarian conflicts, and market volatility. The article concludes that energy progress must be redefined not by production volume, but by systemic integrity and intergenerational justice.
Downloads
References
Akbari, A. (2025). Sustainable approaches to water management and water quality in hydraulic fracturing for unconventional oil and gas development in the United States: A critical review and compilation. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 103(9), 4220–4249. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjce.25646
Delannoy, L., Longaretti, P.-Y., Murphy, D. J., & Prados, E. (2021). Peak oil and the low carbon energy transition: A net-energy perspective. Applied Energy, 304, 117843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117843
Duggal, R., Rayudu, R., Hinkley, J., Burnell, J., Wieland, C., & Keim, M. (2022). A comprehensive review of energy extraction from low-temperature geothermal resources in hydrocarbon fields. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 154, 111865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111865
Kaczmarczyk, M., & Sowiżdżał, A. (2025). Environmental and Social Dimensions of Energy Transformation Using Geothermal Energy. Energies, 18(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/en18133565
Pellegrini, L., Tasciotti, L., & Spartaco, A. (2021). A regional resource curse? A synthetic control approach to oil extraction in Basilicata, Italy. Ecological Economics, 185, 107041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107041
Science, E., Journal, T., Publishers, F. E., Adelekan, O. A., Ilugbusi, B. S., Adisa, O., Obi, O. C., Awonuga, K. F., Asuzu, O. F., Ndubuisi, N. L., Researcher, I., Researcher, I., Kingdom, U., Sugar, D., Plc, R., Limited, S., & State, R. (2024). Energy Transition Policies : a Global Review of. 5(2), 272–287. https://doi.org/10.51594/estj/v5i2.752
