As fracking resumes, Friends of the Earth calls for ban

Press release
Cuadrilla has restarted its fracking activity in Lancashire today despite the escalating climate crisis and the fact that drilling operations have led to earthquakes.
  Published:  15 Aug 2019    |      1 minute read

In 60 days of fracking last year, there were 57 earthquakes in Lancashire. Green group Friends of the Earth is calling for the controversial industry to be banned.

We’re now at a critical juncture for fracking. The government’s new Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom could decide whether to back or scrap fracking.

Jamie Peters, campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Kick-starting an entire new fossil fuel industry when the impacts of climate breakdown are already ruining lives, including right here in the UK, doesn’t line up with the government’s claims to be a climate leader.

“Companies like Cuadrilla are turning a blind eye to the climate crisis and have been lobbying for earthquake safety limits to be relaxed. This is only after they’ve realised that fracking can’t be done without potentially dangerous effects underground.

“Fracking just isn’t part of the future if we are serious about avoiding climate breakdown. Instead of backing climate-wrecking fracking the government should ban it and support renewable energy and green jobs instead.”

ENDS

For more information contact the Friends of the Earth press office on 020 7566 1649 / 07718 394786 (out of hours – please do not text this number) or by emailing [email protected].