Position Statement on Fracking

The document outlines the environmental and health risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking), specifically highlighting the contamination of drinking water, high greenhouse gas emissions from methane leaks and transport, and the potential for carcinogenic effects on nearby populations. It concludes that natural gas is not a viable transition fuel and calls for a shift toward renewable energy in Canada.

• Fracking poses severe risks to water security through the consumption of approximately five million gallons of fresh water per event and the creation of contaminated "produced water" that can leak into groundwater and drinking supplies.
• The process contributes significantly to climate change and air pollution via the emission of CO2 and methane—which is described as 70 times more potent than CO2—as well as emissions from the roughly 1600 truckloads required per fracking event.
• There are substantial health concerns for humans and animals living near fracking sites, including potential damage to the nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems, and an association with certain birth defects such as neural tube and congenital heart defects.
• The document highlights a lack of transparency in the industry, noting that there is currently no requirement for companies in Canada or the United States to disclose the chemicals used in the fracking process.

APA

Vakil, C. (2014). Position Statement on Fracking. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CAPE-Fracking-Policy-2014-1.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Vakil, Cathy. Position Statement on Fracking. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2014. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CAPE-Fracking-Policy-2014-1.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Vakil |first1=Cathy |title=Position Statement on Fracking |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=2014 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CAPE-Fracking-Policy-2014-1.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{vakil2014position, author = {Vakil, Cathy}, title = {{Position Statement on Fracking}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2014}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CAPE-Fracking-Policy-2014-1.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }