Shale gas and fracking: examining the evidence

The document defends the findings of an SGR/CIEH report on shale gas, arguing that unconventional gas extraction is more invasive than conventional gas and risks exceeding global carbon budgets. It highlights regulatory resource shortages in the UK, the potential for fracking to trigger seismic events that damage wellbore integrity, and the risk of air and water contamination. The authors argue that shale gas is not a 'key component' of IPCC mitigation strategies and suggest that the UK could reduce its dependence on natural gas through energy conservation, biogas, and a transition to electric heating.

• The document disputes the claim that the IPCC views shale gas as a 'key component' of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies until 2050, stating that the IPCC presents a range of options and does not use such terminology for shale gas.
• Unconventional gas extraction is described as more invasive than conventional production, requiring a larger industrial operation and significantly higher well densities—potentially more than one well per square kilometre compared to less than one per ten square kilometres for onshore conventional fields.
• The authors highlight that fracking in the Fylde area of Lancashire triggered two earthquakes that severely damaged the wellbore, leading to the abandonment of the UK's only fracked shale gas well.
• The Environment Agency has acknowledged a scarcity of resources and is reprioritising them to manage the regulatory requirements of fracking proposals.
• The document notes that fracking fluid returning to the surface is classified as radioactive waste under 2011 European legislation, which will likely burden waste water treatment infrastructure due to the high volume of waste.
• The authors suggest the UK could reduce its reliance on natural gas through improved home insulation, a shift to efficient electric heat pumps, and increasing the use of biogas, which a National Grid report suggested could provide 5-18% of UK gas by 2020.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Shale gas and fracking: examining the evidence. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/SGR+CIEH-shale-gas-rebuttal.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Shale gas and fracking: examining the evidence. n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/SGR+CIEH-shale-gas-rebuttal.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Shale gas and fracking: examining the evidence |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/SGR+CIEH-shale-gas-rebuttal.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{scientistsforglobalresponsibilityndshale, author = {{Scientists for Global Responsibility}}, title = {{Shale gas and fracking: examining the evidence}}, publisher = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/SGR+CIEH-shale-gas-rebuttal.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }