Fracking | Friends of the Earth

Victory on fracking

After 8 years of campaigning by local groups and NGOs, the UK government announced a moratorium on fracking in November 2019.

This was a huge victory for the climate and shows what can be achieved when communities join together for a common goal.

While fracking reared its head again in September 2022, when then Prime Minister Liz Truss lifted the ban, the government has since re-imposed the moratorium. This was another fantastic achievement for people across the country who stood up to the threat of fracking.

The government now needs to focus on real solutions to the energy crisis, keeping fossil fuels in the ground and developing the UK's huge potential for renewable energy.

Preston New Road day of action protest 2017

What is fracking?

Fracking is a process used to extract shale gas or shale oil. Both are fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases when burnt, contributing to climate breakdown.

Shale rock has to be fractured to get to the gas or oil – this is known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking for short. A mixture of water, sand and chemicals is pumped down the well at very high pressure. This fractures the rock and when the pressure is released, the gas or oil flows back up the well.

Fracking has also triggered many small earthquakes in the UK.

You can be in favour of fixing the climate. Or you can be in favour of exploiting shale gas. But you can’t be in favour of both at the same time.
John Ashton, former envoy for climate change at the UK Foreign Office

Why we don’t need fracking (or coal)

Almost all our energy can reliably come from renewable energy generated by wind, waves and sun.

Renewables have been generating more energy than coal in the UK since 2016. The technology works and costs are falling at a lightning pace.

Coal is due to come off the system soon – and renewables are ready to close this gap, without the need for fracking. We could have almost-fully-renewable electricity in the next decade.

We already know the tried-and-tested solutions to our energy needs. Fracking isn't one of them.

Frack-Free Nanas

Activists worked tirelessly from 2011-to 2019 against the progress of fracking at Preston New Road, Lancashire. But they'll make a comeback if the government decide to allow fracking to resume.

Find out what their dedication, and your support, has achieved, and what it really is to be an activist.