Fracking is not answer to our energy needs

I would like to respond to your correspondent R. Woolnough’s apparent support for fracking.
exploratory fracking drilling rig. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wireexploratory fracking drilling rig. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
exploratory fracking drilling rig. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

It is clear from the evidence from the US, Canada and Australia that fracking is dangerous, damaging to the environment and public health as well as increasing CO2 emissions and other gases, such as methane which is 20 times more harmful as a greenhouse gas. These pollutants in water, ground and air are contributing to escalating climate change.

Fracking is not the sustainable answer to meeting our energy needs, as has been claimed. It is wrong to claim this “dash for gas” is a safe transitional fuel until we can develop Renewables. We have got to keep at least 80% of fossil fuels in the ground if we are to have any chance of meeting our target of reducing CO2 emissions to keep climate change under the 2% threshold increase in global warming.

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We have the technology and geography now to promote widespread renewables. The UK has over 2,000 miles of coastline and is the windiest country in Europe. We could develop in a relatively short space of time tidal, wave, wind, hydro, solar, geo-thermal renewable sources of energy. If Germany, Denmark and other countries can do it, why not the UK which has more natural resources?

David Penney

Noyna Street, Colne