Environmental groups call on Scottish Government to prohibit fracking

Scottish Environment LINK Unconventional Fossil Fuel Subgroup, sent by Friends of the Earth Scotland

Environmental groups representing around 150,000 thousand people in Scotland have called on the Scottish Government to act to prohibit fracking and unconventional oil and gas extraction because of the host of demonstrable risks to the climate, our environment and public health.

Groups including Buglife, Cairngorms Campaign, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Froglife Scotland, Nourish Scotland, Planning Democracy, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Wild Land Group, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and WWF Scotland have responded to the Scottish Government’s ‘Talking Fracking’ consultation raising the following points:

– for a hydrocarbon rich country like Scotland to open up a new source of fossil fuels while it remains committed to continued exploitation of North Sea oil and gas reserves would be irresponsible and run counter to the Scottish Government’s efforts to be a world leader on climate action;

– while evidence of the potentially harmful impacts of UOG extraction continues to mount, the industry remains unable to demonstrate its safety in relation to impacts on human health and the environment;

– the consultation document appears to underplay the potential community impacts, particularly in substantially underestimating the length of time of drilling operations;

– that the lack of a comprehensive study on the environmental impacts of UOG extraction as part of the Scottish Government’s evidence gathering programme under the moratorium is of serious concern.

Mary Church, Chair of SE LINK’s Unconventional Fossil Fuel Sub Group said:

“Scottish Environment LINK was at the forefront of calling for a precautionary approach to fracking, and now member groups representing the views of around 150,000 people in Scotland have come together to call on the Scottish Government to prohibit unconventional oil and gas because of the whole host of risks the industry poses to our environment.

“It simply doesn’t make sense to open up a new frontier of fossil fuels when the science is clear that we must decarbonise our energy systems to avoid catastrophic global warming. For a hydrocarbon-rich, energy exporter like Scotland to do so would fly in the face of the Government’s carbon reduction and climate justice commitments.

“While evidence of the harmful impacts of UOG extraction grows, a precautionary approach requires that we say no to this industry. We urge the Scottish Government to listen to the tens of thousands of people across the country who have made their voices heard through the ‘Talking Fracking’ consultation, and act to protect our environment.”

ENDS