Our reports

• NEW REPORT - NOVEMBER 2011
  "Shale gas: an updated assessment of environmental and climate change impacts" - download:
  full report (3MB) | executive summary | executive summary and conclusions | press release

This is our second assessment of shale gas, following an initial report published in January 2011, by the internationally respected Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, which raises serious questions about the environmental and human health risks of shale gas development, including:

• the release of significant quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere - the exploitation of an additional fossil fuel resource will likely increase energy use, increasing global greenhouse gas emissions further and reducing the likelihood of limiting global temperature increases to within manageable limits;
• the diversion of investment away from genuinely low carbon energy sources, and therefore risking the UK having to renege on its climate change targets;
• potential groundwater contamination associated with chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process and the mobilisation of heavy metals and hydrocarbons;
• the extraction of significant quantities of water for hydraulic fracturing.

The findings of the reports have led us to call for a moratorium on the development of shale gas and 'fracking' in the UK, at least until all the associated risks are fully exposed and understood.

Initial assessment (now superseded by above): "Shale gas report: a provisional assessment of climate change and environmental impacts" - download full report (2MB) | download executive summary.

Press releases

• UK Government's backing of shale gas would render national climate change commitments meaningless says The Co-operative - 23/11/2011
• Government must not be seduced by new gas field says The Co-operative (PDF) - 21/09/2011
• Renewables subject to more red tape than shale gas (PDF) - 23/05/2011
• The Co-operative calls for moratorium on shale gas extraction in the UK - 17/01/2011

Media

In the news...

Note: The Co-operative is not responsible for the content of external websites.

• Vale council defer fracking gas test drilling decision – BBC, 29/09/11
• Fracking plans may pose threat to Bath's ancientsprings – Independent, 29/09/11
• Shale gas firm finds 'vast' gas resources in Lancashire - BBC, 21/09/11
• Chris Huhne halts 'dash for gas' to keep UK on course for carbon targets – Guardian, 20/09/11
• Warning over UK shale gas projects - Guardian, 17/01/11
• Shale gas moratorium in UK urged by Tyndall Centre - BBC, 17/01/11
• Call to ban 'shale gas' extraction - Mirror, 17/01/11

Other resources

We've created, and collated, some useful resources for you to learn more about the issue and help you start campaigning in your local community.

Visit our take action page for ways to get involved and spread the word or download our Gasland Screening Guide.

Note: The Co-operative is not responsible for the content of the following external websites.

• Gasland UK film website | Gasland Facebook page
• WWF-UK call for a moratorium
• Affirming Gasland - the film-maker's response to the industry's critique of the film.
• The British Geological Survey reports on shale gas reserves in the UK, including maps of shale beds
• The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology briefing on shale gas
• What You Need to Know About Natural Gas Production – a lecture by Dr. Theo Colburn
• Video News reports on shale gas in the UK, Channel Four
• How is Fracking Stacking, BBC Newsnight– 02/12/2010
• Cornell University report - Climate Impacts of Shale Gas Development (download report) | More information on the Cornell report

This is part of our wider campaign for a clean energy revolution. Find out about other campaigns from The Co-operative.

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