As a new type of clean energy sources, shale gas has been commercially and widely developed in America and demand for clean energy in Chinese economic development is so urgent that shale gas exploration and development has been gradually put into agenda. Conducted are investigations on foreign shale gas development, new technology research and development and application and potential effects of shale gas development on the environment and compared are domestic shale gas resources with those in America and discussed are a series of such issues as water resources consumption and contamination, land occupation and destruction of the ecological environment probably occurring during broad development of shale gas. It is pointed out that horizontal drilling technology and fluid management shall be adopted in domestic shale gas development to respond to environmental challenges and proposed are some considerable suggestions in shale gas development decision and management by the Chinese government and energy companies.