Unconventional energy resource development and global telecoupling: The Laurentian Great Lakes as a spillover system with high impact consequences

Global demand for energy resources has led to the rapid growth of North American unconventional resource development (URD) in the early twenty-first century. These extraction methods, mainly hydraulic fracturing and oil sands... [ view full abstract ]

Global demand for energy resources has led to the rapid growth of North American unconventional resource development (URD) in the early twenty-first century. These extraction methods, mainly hydraulic fracturing and oil sands mining, have transformed production in the United States and Canada and altered global supply chains. The United States and Canada have much to gain economically, socially, and politically by URD expansion. However, risks may exist in areas outside of the extraction sites due to the extensive hydrocarbon transport network, which has expanded in size and capacity to facilitate industry growth. While recent URD industry growth and sales have been primarily outside of the Laurentian Great Lakes (USA), the resulting transport infrastructure runs through the lakes’ drainage basin. This research addresses the potential risks to this unique resource, which comprises 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water. We use the integrated framework of telecoupling (socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances) to frame global energy and sustainability needs, especially for the Laurentian Great Lakes as a spillover system. Understanding of the global resource sending, receiving, and spillover systems can inform governance of resources and global sustainability. As the URD industry expands, special attention should be paid to those geographic areas particularly vulnerable to the environmental, social, and economic effects of a hydrocarbon transport disaster.