Help stop fracking in Wales

7 August 2012

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. 

Related links

• New survey reveals Wales says no to fracking
  (Press release, 16 August 2013)
• Welsh Government to do nothing to protect Wales from fracking
  (Press release, 13 August 2013)
• To frack or not: catastrophe or prosperity for Wales
  (Press release, 6 March 2013)
• Environment Minister could protect Wales from fracking
  (Press release, 2 October 2012)
• Shale gas: Unconventional, unnecessary and unwanted
  (Briefing, May 2013, PDF)
• Fracking petition submission to Welsh Government
  (Consultation response, November 2012, PDF)