ABSTRACT

Hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) is a policy problem that is both a spatial and temporal issue, touching on economic, environmental, health, safety, political and social concerns of interest to youth. This empirical study focuses on the impact of fracking on youth in communities in England. The Capabilities Approach is used as a lens for understanding the experiences of young people in their late teens. The article draws on focus groups with young people which took place within a 20-mile radius of exploratory fracking sites. The study contributes to the understanding of youth experience of controversial energy interventions. Findings suggest that fracking prevents young people from living the lives they have reason to value, and has, and will continue to have, a negative impact on wellbeing in the present and in the future. Fracking creates conditions of corrosive disadvantage for affected youth. Greater inclusion of youth perspectives in environmental decision-making is needed.

摘要

水力压裂（“压裂”）是一个政策问题，既是空间问题，也是时间问题，涉及青年感兴趣的经济、环境、健康、安全、政治和社会问题。这项实证研究侧重于水力压裂对英格兰社区青年的影响。能力方法被用作了解青少年后期经历的镜头。这篇文章借鉴了在探索性水力压裂场地 20 英里范围内发生的年轻人焦点小组。该研究有助于了解有争议的能源干预的青年经验。调查结果表明，水力压裂使年轻人无法过上他们有理由珍视的生活，并且已经并将继续对现在和未来的福祉产生负面影响。水力压裂为受影响的青年创造了腐蚀劣势的条件。需要更多地将青年的观点纳入环境决策。