Stopping global climate change will not be possible if we wait until all available fossil fuel resources are consumed. Limiting the average increase in warming to two degrees Celsius means that we are only able to use less than a quarter of the existing reserves of coal, oil and natural gas by 20501. Yet the energy sector celebrates the arrival of a new type of fossil fuel, the shale gas.
The drop in the U.S. gas prices with shale gas expedites the research attempts in other countries. The amount of technically recoverable resources of shale gas increased from 6,622 trillion cubic meters in 2011 to 7,299 trillion cubic meters in 2013. Globally, 32 percent of the total estimated natural gas resources are in shale formations3. In Turkey, the shale gas reserves are estimated to be 40 times of the 2011 consumption4.
The fifth Green Economy Conference of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation opens to discussion the shale gas phenomenon in the energy sector with its social dimensions. We are going to make comparisons between shale gas and other energy resources and elaborate on the effects of shale gas on agriculture, climate and environment. Is there enough shale gas in Turkey? Is it economically viable? If extracted, what impacts will it bring on the environment and especially on the water resources? All these questions and more will be discussed together with the experts of the area.
We kindly invite everyone who wishes to better understand the topic of shale gas and contribute to discussions to participate in the Green Economy Conference.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung Turkey Representation
9 November 2014, Intercontinental Hotel
Asker Ocağı Cad. No:1 Taksim-Istanbul
09:30 Registiration
10:00 Opening Address
Ulrike Dufner, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Turkey Representation
Sevgi Mutlu, President of Green Thought Association
10:20 Key note speaker:
Shale gas in the world, resources, policies and risks
Rebecca Harms, Co President- Greens/EFA Group
10:40 Q&A
11:00 Shale Gas in Europe (Moderator: Sevil Turan )
* EU energy targets and the role of shale gas
Michael Schuetz, European Comission DG Energy, Policy Officer
* Shale gas debate in the EU
Geert Decock, Food & Water Europe, Director/EU Affairs
* Shale gas in Turkey
Mehmet Kul, TMMOB Chamber of Petroleum Engineers President
12:00 Q&A
12:45 Break for lunch
14:00 Economic and politics of shale gas (Moderator: Semra Cerit Mazlum)
* Energy independency
Roderick Kefferputz, Political Advisor, European Parliament
* Cost of shale gas
Antoine Simon, Friends of the Earth, Extractive Industries Campaigner
* Climate change and shale gas
Önder Algedik, Climate and Energy Consultant
15:00 Q&A
15:45 Break
16:00 Social and Environmental Evaluation of Shale Gas (Moderator: Ayşe Erdem)
* Earthquake risk and shale gas
Dr. Oğuz Gündoğdu, Istanbul University Department of Geophysical Engineering
* Health risk of the workers
Prof. Dr. Fatma Evyapan, Pamukkale University, Head of the Department of ChestDiseases
* Batman irrigation dam and Silvan dam’s relation to the shale gas
Gültekin Aydeniz-Mesopotamia Ecology Association
17:00 Q&A
17:45 End of the conference
RSVP: 6 November 2014
Contact person: Banu Yayla
Tel: 0212 249 15 54
Simultaneous translation in to Turkish and English will be provided during the conference.