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Help stop fracking in Wales
7 August 2012

Fracking for shale gas is terrible news for tackling climate change, as well as being known to pollute water supplies and cause earthquakes.

Well over half the population of Wales lives in areas that are already, or are likely to become, licensed for fracking - the controversial process where water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground to release shale gas. There have already been applications for test drillings in Wales.

Fracking causes earthquakes, and has polluted water supplies. But of greatest concern is its greenhouse gas emissions, which have been estimated in some cases to be twice as much as coal.

Climate experts at the Tyndall Centre say that "large scale extraction of shale gas cannot be reconciled" with keeping global temperatures no greater than 2oC above pre-industrial level - necessary to avoid the most dangerous consequences of runaway climate change.

Investment in shale gas would happen at the expense of investment in genuine low-carbon energy. The Tyndall Centre has shown that substantial investment in shale gas will have a massive negative effect on renewable energy generation, and probably mean failing to meet the UK's international obligations. 

Shale gas fracking drilling rig

© Lynne Jacobs

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