WWF Cymru: Comment on Shale Gas
Reacting to David Cameron’s announcement today that the “UK was going all out on shale gas”, Anne Meikle, Head of WWF Cymru, said:
“At a time when the Welsh Government is working to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020, so that Wales plays its part in limiting the risks of climate change, the Prime Minister’s statement on fracking gives cause for concern.”
“We hope the UK Government’s boundless enthusiasm for shale gas will at least be matched by a similar willingness to rapidly decarbonise the UK’s energy system.
“Otherwise, the UK’s commitments to meet its obligations under the Climate Change Act and its stated ambition to rapidly grow Britain’s low-carbon industries will seriously lack credibility”.
“Our challenge to UK and Welsh Governments is this: given the need to cut Wales’ greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonise our energy supply – how can fracking be justified?”
“We also need to remember that extracting shale gas would take the focus away from efforts to improve energy efficiency and to develop new sources of renewable energy. The claimed economic benefits of shale gas have been overstated, in particular the assertion that it would reduce energy bills..”
