Fracking and climate breakdown

What is fracking?

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.

More facts about fracking

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

Fracking and global warming

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

Here you can find out about the campaign to stop fracking – and what you can do about it. Together we can be a powerful force to protect our climate by keeping coal, oil and gas in the ground.

Fracking earthquakes explained

Fracking in the UK has triggered many small earthquakes.

Cuadrilla fracked at Preston New Road in Lancashire over 2 months in 2018. During that time, seismologists detected 57 earthquakes.

The rules state that fracking must stop if earthquakes reach magnitude 0.5. This is a problem for the fracking industry. Cuadrilla stopped operations 5 times because it triggered earthquakes bigger than the rules allow.

Now the industry is trying to relax the rules after years of talking up the UK's so-called gold-standard fracking regulations.

What is the government's policy on fracking?

The government wants to let fracking companies drill across the English countryside – without the need to apply for planning permission.

Learn about the government’s proposals and how you can stop them.

Find out more

Why we don’t need fracking or coal

Almost all our energy can reliably come from the 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 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.

Switch to green energy

Communities rising up against fracking

Stopping fracking:
From Mark Ruffalo to the Nanas

There has been no fracking in the UK for over 6 years. How has the anti-fracking movement held back this industry for so long?

Stopping fracking:
From Mark Ruffalo to the Nanas

There has been no fracking in the UK for over 6 years. How has the anti-fracking movement held back this industry for so long?

$Barbara by proposed fracking site$

How we knew we'd beaten fracking at Roseacre

Fracking firm Cuadrilla has lost a planning appeal to start work at Roseacre Wood, Lancashire. Campaigner Barbara Richardson reflects on success, the anti-fracking campaign and why she'll do more yoga.

How we knew we'd beaten fracking at Roseacre

Stand with Lancashire
against fracking

Find out about fracking, its contribution to climate change and how we can help stop it being forced on the people of Lancashire.

Stand with Lancashire
against fracking

Find out about fracking, its contribution to climate change and how we can help stop it being forced on the people of Lancashire.

$Women against fracking$

Why we stand in silence every Wednesday
The Women in White

Sometimes they dance. Sometimes they break into song. But mostly the Women in White protest in silence against the fracking being forced on their communities.

Why we stand in silence every Wednesday
The Women in White

Sometimes they dance. Sometimes they break into song. But mostly the Women in White protest in silence against the fracking being forced on their communities.

Meet the women saying no to oil drilling

Dubbed the 'Sussex and Surrey Six', they're standing up against an injunction from UK Oil & Gas to stop protest activities.

Meet the women saying no to oil drilling

Dubbed the 'Sussex and Surrey Six', they're standing up against an injunction from UK Oil & Gas to stop protest activities.

Why fight fracking?

Climate breakdown

Fracking is incompatible with tackling the climate emergency

Climate breakdown

Fracking is incompatible with tackling the climate emergency

Local environment

Fracking poses a risk to the local environment

Local environment

Fracking poses a risk to the local environment

Water

Fracking risks contaminating groundwater

Water

Fracking risks contaminating groundwater

$Activists holding signs supporting green jobs and against fracking$

Jobs

Renewables can provide us with more jobs

Jobs

Renewables can provide us with more jobs

We need clean energy

Renewables and energy efficiency will do more for energy security than fracking

We need clean energy

Renewables and energy efficiency will do more for energy security than fracking

Energy bills

Fracking is unlikely to reduce energy bills

Energy bills

Fracking is unlikely to reduce energy bills

We're at a critical juncture with fracking

Tell government not to frack it up

Why is fracking so controversial?

Less than 15% of the public support fracking. And over a quarter of a million people signed a petition to ban it.

But the government has awarded more than 200 licences for potential oil and gas exploration, once planning permission has been given.

What are frack-free groups?

Local frack-free groups spring up wherever fracking is a risk.

The anti-fracking Nanas in Lancashire are an example of ordinary people defending their communities from fracking. Wearing matching headscarves, the Nanas are women of all ages.

They have fronted rallies and campaigns, gone to court and slowed down fracking operations.

Where could fracking happen?

The government has awarded licences for potential oil and gas extraction across England. To get the go-ahead, companies first need planning permission.

Use our map to see if your neighbourhood is at risk from fracking. You can also use it to locate your nearest anti-fracking group.

UK fracking map

Fracking: the numbers

earthquakes were detected in Lancashire  during the 2 months Cuadrilla was fracking in 2018.

300+

anti-fracking groups are resisting shale gas in the UK.

12%

of people support fracking — whereas 84% of the public support renewable energy.

Tell government not to frack it up

How can we stop fracking?

By supporting local people – and joining thousands of others taking action – we can achieve a safer climate for generations to come.

Whether it's signing a petition, joining an anti-fracking group or protesting against the industry, you can help keep the UK frack free.

Photo: our lawyer Jake White (right) talking to local resident Carl Lee at a fracking demo in Balcombe, 2013.

Tell government not to frack it up

John's story

"We've got enough clean energy alternatives, that will provide a whole lot more jobs than what this shale gas nonsense will ever do. The opposition is seen more across the country. I am feeling optimistic that it will be stopped once people realise that it's going to affect them, their families, their children, their environment."

John Tootil, nursery garden owner near Preston New Road fracking site.

The government has changed but the climate emergency remains

Tell government not to frack it up

Success against fracking

Wales has temporarily banned fracking. Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have banned it. Northern Ireland has included a presumption against fracking in its planning guidance.

The Netherlands, France, Germany and Bulgaria have all halted fracking. Success is largely due to the resistance from local communities and campaigners.

Find out more