Nanas against fracking

Fracking and climate breakdown

Stop fracking earthquakes

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
What is 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.

More on earthquakes

Keep earthquake regulations rock solid

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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

Why fight fracking?

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Climate breakdown
Fracking is incompatible with tackling the climate emergency
Climate breakdown
Fracking is incompatible with tackling the climate emergency
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Local environment
Fracking poses a risk to the local environment
Local environment
Fracking poses a risk to the local environment
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Water
Fracking risks contaminating groundwater
Water
Fracking risks contaminating groundwater
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Jobs
Renewables can provide us with more jobs
Jobs
Renewables can provide us with more jobs
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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
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Energy bills
Fracking is unlikely to reduce energy bills
Energy bills
Fracking is unlikely to reduce energy bills

Keep earthquake regulations rock solid

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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 licenses 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

57
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.
Stop fracking earthquakes

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.

Stop fracking earthquakes

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.

Keep earthquake regulations rock solid

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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.

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