Ricardo Energy & Environment

Ricardo Energy & Environment is 'a global sustainability consultancy. We help our clients solve some of the world’s most complex environmental challenges and provide governments, public agencies and businesses with leading analysis, advice and data.'

Report on the impact of shale gas exploitation on local communities in Scotland

The company published a report on shale gas exploitation in Scotland entitled 'Understanding and mitigating community level impacts from transportation' in November 2016.

Their full summary: 'The aims of the transport project were to improve understanding of the increased traffic volumes and associated impacts which would result from unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development, and to identify means of mitigating these impacts. The research finds that the additional traffic movements associated with onshore oil and gas resources are unlikely to be significant or detectable at a regional or national scale, in view of the much greater numbers of traffic movements resulting from other activities. Consequently, the key focus for consideration of potential community impacts of UOG development is the assessment and management of potential impacts on communities local to development sites. Assuming the appropriate strategic policies are put in place, and appropriate mitigation is carried out, local communities would nevertheless experience an increase in traffic numbers, potentially for a number of years. However, provided the planning and Environmental Impact Assessment is properly implemented, any significant impacts would be avoided through the use of appropriate mitigation measures.'