Fracking investigation highlights the scale of threat in Scotland

Investigative journalists The Ferret have produced of a map of the areas in Scotland targeted by the fracking industry and several companies likely to apply for drilling licences.

Commenting on the release Friends of the Earth Scotland Head of Campaigns Mary Church said:


“This investigation exposes how much is at stake should fracking be allowed to go ahead in Scotland. What we are looking at is an area of around 3,000 kilometres squared in some of the most beautiful and densely populated parts of the country being targeted for dirty fossil fuel extraction. Communities will be horrified to see the scale of the threat. 

“The experience from the US and Australia where commercial unconventional gas extraction is taking place is that this industry brings with it numerous health and environmental risks and disruption to local businesses and way of life. Shale gas fracking and coalbed methane drilling are simply not compatible with healthy thriving communities. 

“The only reasonable decision for the Scottish Government to take is to turn the current moratorium into a ban so that communities are protected from this unwanted unnecessary industry.” 


Mary Church was speaking from the United Nations Climate summit in Paris as politicians try to produce a deal to limit global temperature rises. 
Church concluded: 
“We should not be opening up vast swathes of the country to the fossil fuel industry at a time when we should be leaving it in the ground and concentrating on abundant and clean renewable energy.  As world leaders negotiate an agreement to tackle climate change, Scotland needs to do its fair share and transition away from fossil fuels. 

Notes to Editors


1.The Ferret investigate journalists released the story Firms target central Scotland for fracking here 
It was also covered in the The Guardian here

2. Scottish Government imposed a moratorium on shale gas fracking and coal bed methane in January http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/fracking-moratorium-scotland


3. Nicola Sturgeon is currently at the UN Climate Summit in Paris


4. Friends of the Earth Scotland is:

* Scotland's leading environmental campaigning organisation

* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland

* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 75 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups.