Taking action on gas shales extraction

As part of their Toxic Fuels campaign, the Co-op are taking action to call for a halt to the extraction of natural gas from shale formations in the UK until the environmental impact is fully understood, since the practice holds signifcant risk of hazardous groundwater pollution as well as a detrimental effect on climate change.

what are the environmental concerns?

In January this year the Co-op called on the Government to impose an immediate suspension on gas shale extraction following this report from the Tyndall Centre, University of Manchester, which shows how shale gas extraction brings significant risk of groundwater contamination.

Moreover, the exploitation of gas shales is bringing new greenhouse gas sources into play and even a mid-range extraction scenario could see carbon dioxide levels rise globally by some 5 parts per million by 2050. This will further reduce any slim possibility of maintaining global temperature changes at or below 2oC and thereby increase the risk of entering a period of 'dangerous climate change'.

why does action need to be taken?

Campaigners in America believe the practice has already polluted water courses there and they have created an award winning film on the subject called Gasland. The documentary shows some Pennsylvania residents setting fire to their drinking water and other astonishing implications of shale gas extraction in the United States.

The rapid growth of shale gas production in the US has raised interest in the UK. The Co-op have issued The Co-operative commissioned report to coincide with the UK premiere of the Gasland movie, together these act as compelling evidence that a cautionary approach should be taken in the UK as the only responsible way to proceed. However a number of businesses have already begun gas extraction activity particularly on the scenic Fylde coast in North West England.

does gas shales extraction have benefits?

Supporters of gas shales extraction using hydraulic fracturing (also known as "fracking") say it could release so much gas across the globe that it could solve the energy crisis for the next century.

Paul Monaghan, Head of Social Goals and Sustainability, said: "On the face of it new natural gas finds appear to be good news, but this important report highlights the significant gaps in our knowledge when it comes to understanding the impacts of shale gas extraction.

"That is why we are calling for a moratorium on any further exploitation of shale gas which will allow the wider environmental concerns to be fully exposed and addressed."

"Our members have been fully supportive of our on-going Toxic Fuels campaign in which we have highlighted the issues associated with tar sands, and as a responsible institutional investor we will continue to engage with energy companies in order to ensure they act responsibly and work to support the development of sustainable energy sources."

Kevin Anderson, Professor of Energy and Climate Change at the Tyndall Centre, University of Manchester, said: "In an energy hungry world any new fossil fuel resource will only lead to additional carbon emissions. In the case of shale gas there is also a significant risk its use will delay the introduction of renewable energy alternatives. Consequently, if we are serious about avoiding dangerous climate change, the only safe place for shale gas remains in the ground."


To find out more you can read the Gas Shale Report and find details of nationwide screenings of the film Gasland.