The Scottish Government has announced that it will not support the development of Unconventional Oil and Gas in Scotland, meaning there is an effective ban on fracking in Scotland. The decision has been given a qualified welcomed by local campaigners Our Forth while Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson is delighted that the government is ‘putting communities first’.
Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse told MSPs the decision followed an extensive period of evidence gathering, public engagement, and dialogue on the issue.
The Scottish Government’s cautious, evidence-led approach to unconventional oil and gas included a four-month public consultation which received over 60,000 responses. Overall, approximately 99% of the consultation responses were opposed to fracking and fewer than 1% were in favour.
Those opposed to fracking emphasised the potential for significant, long-lasting negative impacts on communities, health, environment, and climate; expressed scepticism about the ability of regulation to mitigate negative impacts; and were unconvinced about the value of any economic benefit or the contribution of unconventional oil and gas to Scotland’s energy mix.
To put yesterday’s announcement into immediate effect, the Scottish Government has now written to local authorities across Scotland to make clear that the Directions that gave effect to the moratorium will remain in place. A parliamentary vote will take place in the near future followed by a Strategic Environmental Assessment.
Mr Wheelhouse said: “The Scottish Government will not support the development of unconventional oil and gas in Scotland. Having taken account of the interests of the environment, our economy, public health and the overwhelming majority of public opinion, the decision I am announcing today means fracking cannot and will not take place in Scotland.
“We have undertaken one of the most far-reaching examinations of unconventional oil and gas ever carried out by any government, anywhere.
“We have not taken the process or the decision lightly. At every stage we have created opportunities for discourse and debate.
“The views expressed through our consultation demonstrated that communities across Scotland, particularly in densely populated areas where developments could potentially take place, are not convinced there is a strong national economic argument when balanced against the risk and disruption they anticipate in areas, such as transport, pollution, crucially, their health and wellbeing.
“It is clear that people across Scotland remain firmly opposed to fracking – this government has listened and taken decisive action.
“Scotland’s chemicals industry has conveyed strong views on the potential impact of shale on the sector. I want to be clear that regardless of our position on unconventional oil and gas, our support for Scotland’s industrial base and manufacturing is unwavering.
“Manufacturing and the chemicals industry continue to play a crucial role in the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government understands that a supportive fiscal regime, affordable energy, access to the right skills, and good infrastructure are all essential to future success. That is why this government will continue to support industry in a range of different ways in the months and years to come.”
Our Forth, the local campaign group who have fought a long-running battle against fracking, have given the decision a qualified welcome but say the fight must go on. The group said: Our Forth welcomes the indefinite moratorium on fracking in Scotland. The Scottish Government is to be congratulated on listening to the people of Scotland. However we believe this decision is also a missed opportunity.
Local SNP MSP Ben Macpherson has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement. He said: “People in Edinburgh and across Scotland have deep concerns about the development of fracking, as do I.
“The Scottish Government has now undertaken one of the most far reaching investigations into unconventional oil and gas of any government in the world, and concluded that there should be no fracking in Scotland. Based on evidence collated and consultation responses, it was clear after careful examination that fracking could undermine public health and our climate change targets.
“I’m absolutely delighted that the Scottish Government are putting the interests of communities first and will ban the development of unconventional oil and gas in Scotland. The SNP have listened to the people of Scotland – Fracking cannot and will not take place in Scotland.”
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