France Moves Toward a Ban on Hydrofracking

The fierce debate over hydraulic fracturing, a way to drill for natural gas, has been playing out state-by-state in the United States -- and even county-by-county. It wasn't until this month that the Energy Department even stepped into this debate in a big way by appointing a high-profile panel to investigate hydrofracking.

Meanwhile, though, at least one European country has been moving swiftly ahead to curb hydrofracking. This week the French National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to ban hydrofracking.

The step was another indication that Europe has pulled ahead of the United States on environmental issues. While the modern environmental movement had its origins here in U.S., the growing dominance of market ideology and powerful industry interests, long ago pushed the U.S. out of its leadership position.

A few years ago, a WHO report analyzed data from 192 countries to rank which countries did the best on reducing environmental and health risks to its citizens. Six European countries rated more highly than the U.S.: Iceland, Israel, Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and Britain.

France hasn't banned hydrofracking yet. Legislation still needs to clear the Senate there. But national policymakers clearly appreciate the environmental threats from this practice at a time when many U.S. law makers are barely up to speed on the issue.