WWF Scotland React To Scottish Government Comments On Fracking

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks has responded to today’s Scottish Government statement on fracking and the publication of research Ministers have commissioned on the subject.

“Looking at the three tests posed by the Government’s own independent climate watchdog, it’s very hard to see how Scotland could go ahead with fracking without breaching its carbon targets.

It’s clear that there should be no role for new fossil fuels in Scotland’s energy future.

“According to the independent research, the direct emissions from the production process of an unregulated fracking industry alone could potentially add more than 10 per cent to our current annual climate emissions. And that’s before you consider the climate science, namely that the vast majority of known global fossil fuel reserves need to be left in the ground.

“With the World Meteorological Organisation having just revealed that the world has experienced its hottest five-year period on record, it’s clear that there should be no role for new fossil fuels in Scotland’s energy future. “