You’ve probably come across the fracking in the news recently and wondered if the reality is as ugly as the word. Maybe you’ve heard about the new natural gas boom and wondered what shale gas and coalbed methane mean for our energy needs.

(Photo: FoE EWNI)

We are in the middle of a big push to exploit what’s known as unconventional gas, as more convenient, conventional sources run out. However, even though natural gas burns with lower emissions than dirtier fossil fuels like coal, the means of getting at these new sources of gas are far from clean.

There is a growing body of evidence from the USA, where the unconventional gas industry is far more developed, that there are inherent and unacceptably high environmental and health risks associated with coalbed methane and shale gas extraction.

Act now to stop CBM at Airth!

Dart Energy has progressed its plans for the first commercial production of coalbed methane (CBM) in Scotland by submitting planning applications to Falkirk and Stirling Council for 14 new wells and a network of pipelines at Airth.

It is of great concern that this project could be developed before a comprehensive review of the full life cycle environmental and health impacts of unconventional gas extraction has been undertaken, and before environmental regulations have caught up with the new technologies proposed.

Act now to stop CBM at Airth by objecting to both Falkirk and Stirling Councils!

Our campaign

We are working with a network of organisations and individuals who are concerned about how the unconventional gas industry is going ahead BEFORE the long term environmental and health consequences are fully and widely understood.

We think the Government should call a halt on the industry and undertake a full review of:

• the full lifecycle environmental and health impacts
• the impact that developing this industry will have on meeting our climate targets
• the public acceptability of going down this route; and
• the suitability of environmental regulations to deal with these new technologies

Find out more about why we think unconventional gas is a bad idea, what's going on in Scotland and how to get involved at www.frackfreescotland.org.uk

Joint statement on fracking from Rio

Activists and campaigners gathered at the Peoples' Summit in Rio de Janeiro sent out a joint statement against unconventional gas, opposing all extraction of shale gas and shale oil and every use of hydraulic fracturing and other associated extractive industries such as frack-sand mining. Friends of the Earth Scotland signed up to this statement.

Download the complete statement (PDF)

Find out more

Fracking: what's it all about? Read more about unconventional gas and fracking

View and use our interactive prezi tool on unconventional gas and fracking

Download our detailed and summary supporter briefings.

Find out more about what's going on in Scotland and how to get involved at www.frackfreescotland.org.uk

Take action

Unconventional gas regulation is dealt with at both Holyrood a nd Westminster so: email your MSP and email your MP to ask them to work towards a moratorium.

Act now to stop CBM at Airth by objecting to both Falkirk and Stirling Councils!

Download our CBM and Frack Free Zones resource pack.

If you are concerned about any coal bed methane or shale developments in your area, please get in touch.

We are very grateful to Artists Project Earth for their support with this campaign.