News review
Sustainable Analysis
Lords fracking report dismissed as
“taxpayer-funded cheerleading”
Campaigners react angrily to pro-fracking report from committee with vested interests
By Stuart Qualtrough
report
A House of Lordsbenefitson
the economic
of
shale gas has been
heavily criticised by campaign
groups who claim the findings
were based on “cherry-picking
of wafer-thin evidence”.
The Lords 13-strong committee,
which includes two members who
own shares in gas and mining
companies, one who is a director of
a shale gas asset fund and another
with a declared interest in the
fracking drive, unsurprisingly said it
supports the Government’s
commitment to “go all out for shale”.
Climate change sceptic Lord
Lawson, founding chairman of the
Global Warming Policy Foundation,
also sits on the committee.
Its report claims the UK is
“exceptionally fortunate” to have
substantial shale gas and oil
resources and that exploration and
appraisal is urgently needed to
establish their economic potential.
But the committee says it is
Committee report supports Government drive for shale gas exploration
disappointed that the exploratory
drilling with fracking needed for
shale gas development has hardly
begun. It found that since the
lifting of a moratorium on
hydraulic fracturing in 2012, the
Environment Agency has not
received or approved a single
application for the permits
necessary for exploratory drilling.
And it calls for a simplified and
clear regulatory regime to
encourage development of shale
and reassure communities that
risks of harm to the environment
or human health are low. The
committee also expressed concern
that complex regulation may be
causing unnecessary delays.
However, Nick Molho, Head of
Climate and Energy Policy at WWFUK, said: “The Lords seemed to
have overlooked the many serious
analysts who have said shale gas in
the UK is unlikely to have much
impact on either gas prices or the
UK’s rising exposure to gas imports.”
Friends of the Earth Climate and
Energy Campaigner Tony Bosworth
added: “Shale gas regulation in the
UK to date has been a catalogue
of errors and oversights as thinly
stretched regulators have struggled
to deal with fracking firms with
eyes on bumper profits. The report
recognises that the regulations
aren’t working – but calling for the
Government to ‘simplify’ regulations
and speed up the process will
not reassure local communities
and a public unconvinced by this
risky technology.”
Greenpeace UK chief scientist
Dr Doug Parr said: “The Lords
spent seven months cherry-picking
the wafer-thin evidence that fits
a foregone conclusion about
the benefits of shale gas. This
is just more taxpayer-funded
cheerleading from unelected
politicians who seem all too happy
to ignore the country’s legitimate
concerns about fracking.”
Sustainable Growth
Europe targets ‘Blue Economy’ for green growth
By Anna Wright
The European Commission has
delivered an action plan for
innovation in the ‘Blue
Economy’ to help use ocean
resources sustainably and drive
growth and jobs in Europe.
Two-thirds of the planet is
covered by oceans and seas and
if managed responsibly, they can
provide sources of food, medicine
and energy while protecting
ecosystems for generations to
come. However, more knowledge
is needed about them.
European Commissioner for
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Maria Damanaki said: “Today,
we put the building blocks in
place so tomorrow’s generation
6 GreenWeek May 9, 2014
Europe launches ocean strategy
of Europeans will have the
knowledge and skills to better
manage our oceans and draw
the full benefits they can provide
us, while respecting the balance
of the ecosystem of the sea.
“For example, our initiative to
create a digital map of the
entire seabed of European
waters will increase the
predictability for businesses to
invest, lowering costs and
stimulate further innovation for
sustainable blue growth.”
The Commission identi