UK climate campaigners threaten legal action over fracking U-turn

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Jacob Rees-Mogg has confirmed that the government will support more than 100 licences for companies to explore more fossil fuels in the North Sea, as well as lifting the moratorium on shale gas drilling in England.

On announcing the measures, the business and energy secretary said, “tolerating a higher degree of risk and disturbance appears to us [the government] to be in the national interest given the circumstances”.

The move comes despite repeated warnings from experts that increasing the production of gas and oil domestically will not lower energy bills, as prices are dictated by the global market.

Accusing ministers of “pandering to outdated, fringe fossil fuel interests,” Greenpeace has said it is considering taking legal action against the government.

Philip Evans, an energy security campaigner with Greenpeace, said: “New fossil fuel licences are the opposite of energy security. We believe this licensing round is unlawful and we’ll be looking at taking legal action.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland also made its opposition clear. Campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “In ploughing forward with this new licensing round, the UK Government is effectively denying the reality of the climate emergency.”

However, ministers in Scotland have confirmed that the Scottish government’s policy on fracking remains unchanged, despite the ban being lifted over the border.

Scottish energy secretary Michael Matheson said unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is “not consistent” with the Scottish Government’s climate obligations.  “Instead of licensing more fossil fuel extraction, the UK government should be encouraging investment in renewables and supporting a just transition for our energy sector, Scottish households and businesses,” he added.