A large cross-section of environmental and conservation groups has called on the Government to “put the brakes on fracking”. In a letter to the Sunday Times, the NGOs - including the Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, WWF and Greenpeace– say protests in Balcombe, Sussex are not an isolated case of local dissent, but emblematic of concern shared by many of their members about the threat fracking poses to communities and the environment. This is the first time such a large number of influential NGOs has joined together to urge the Government to stop its headlong rush into fracking, and the first time the Wildlife Trusts have spoken out nationally. It comes after RSPB yesterday issued its first formal objections to fracking proposals in Balcombe and Lancashire.
"If we embrace fracking to the degree proposed by the Coalition, the UK will be left with a gas-dependent energy system for decades to come, meaning our ability to meet our legally-binding carbon targets will be significantly compromised,” said the group. “Meanwhile there is no evidence that UK shale will reduce household energy bills and the clean technologies that can actually limit climate impacts, improve energy efficiency and deliver cheaper energy over time are being side-lined."
RSPB spokesman Harry Huyton: "Balcombe has hit the headlines as the battleground in the debate over fracking. The public there are rightly concerned about the impact this new technology will have on their countryside. But these are not just nimbys – there is a very real public disquiet about fracking."
Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape at the Wildlife Trusts: "Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing wildlife and society, so every possible step should be taken to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and to invest more in renewable alternatives. Fracking could take us several steps backwards, in terms of meeting climate commitments, and also poses multiple environmental risks, such as contamination of groundwater, which could severely harm communities, wildlife and ecosystems. These serious concerns must be addressed."
As around 1,000 campaigners have descended on the outskirts of Balcombe, for the six-day Reclaim the Power anti-fracking camp, Natalie Bennett, Green Party leader has delivered a message of solidarity. Ms Bennett, who has visited Balcombe twice in recent weeks, has praised veteran campaigners and new campaigners for "coming together in a coordinated, determined, peaceful effort to protect this village. You are fighting a critical fight for Britain’s energy future."
Ms Bennett went on to say "The Green Party is with you all the way. We’re determined to prevent fracking in Britain. We know you are too. Together we can win, and we must win – to protect beautiful countryside and the natural environment like you’re standing in today, to protect against catastrophic climate change, and to protect the vulnerable people in Britain who need affordable future energy. David Cameron, George Osborne, and, astonishingly, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Ed ‘I love shale gas’ Davey, want to lock us into a ‘dash for gas’. That would have three enormous, critical impacts."
Concluding Ms Bennett said: "First, around the country, we’d see huge numbers of lorry movements, huge stress on water supplies, and the risk of contamination of ground water and surface water supplies. Second, we’d see Britain heading in entirely the wrong direction to meet its legally binding carbon emissions. It’s clear that we cannot, we must not, continue on the path to catastrophic climate change, the path that fracking leads down. Thirdly, we’d be locking the 6.5 million people in Britain in fuel poverty – and millions more on the edge – into high energy bills, even worse poverty."
The Green party has launched a petition which gives anyone the opportunity to "give a firm NO to fracking."
