A vast endowment of shale oil and gas in the North American energy markets could fail to reach its potential if the industry continues to fall short in building the public’s trust, according to Peter Lehner, the executive director of the National Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy organization.

Lehner was a speaker at the Baker Institute of Public Policy’s North American Energy Resources Summit that was held at Rice University in Houston in January.

In a room well-stocked with representatives of the oil and gas industry, Lehner acknowledged that ...