Paper short abstract:

Anthropology can with interdisciplinary collaboration critically examine the conflicts for public policy about crises in energy and environmental issues. This includes policies about fracking for natural gas both in the US and worldwide concerning property rights, tourism, and the political economy of the environment.

Paper long abstract:

Anthropology can with interdisciplinary collaboration critically examine the conflicts for public policy about crises in energy and environmental issues. This includes but is not confined to policies about fracking for natural gas both in the US and worldwide. What has been called "fracking" (for purposes of this panel, specifically in reference to horizontal hydraulic fracturing in drilling for natural gas in shale), has become especially controversial in recent years. This is part of changes in energy cultures far beyond such fracking. The issues are in part technological, but even more so cultural issues, and constitute a crisis about political economy and the environment. Drinking water safety is one issue. In the US, fracking and energy cultures issues are part of presidential politics, and regulatory controversies at both the federal and state levels. Water for fracking is perceived by some to be in competition with water use for agriculture in some places, e.g., South Africa (where there has been a moratorium on fracking). There are also questions about the impact of the technology and concomitant "economic development" on local communities. There are concerns about property rights of landowners, the economic role of tourism (consider a moratorium on fracking in France), other businesses, and the international political economy of the environment. Anthropologists can contribute to policy processes connected with these crises.