The economics of fracking

Andrew Critchlow writes in The Telegraph that, with crude prices slumping, Britain’s hoped for shale oil ‘revolution’ may be undermined by basic economics. UK fracking faces bust amid Opec oil price war Experts have warned that a rush to start fracking for oil across Britain may already be over before it has even begun … Continue reading The economics of fracking →

More concerns about fracking

Pilita Clark and Ed Crooks write in the Financial Times about the increased threat of water shortages resulting from the development of shale gas. Water shortages pose larger than expected threat to shale gas Water shortages pose a bigger threat to the global shale oil and gas industry than is widely realised, according to … Continue reading More concerns about fracking →

Trying to change attitudes towards fracking

Damian Carrington has an excellent blog in the Guardian about what won’t work to convince the British of the need and benefits of fracking. It is definitely going to take a lot of convincing. Fracking: shock and awe will not win the battle of Britain Removing the ability of people to block shale exploration under … Continue reading Trying to change attitudes towards fracking →

Democracy in action?

It is amazing that there is now consideration being given to allow those affected by shale gas development to have a say whether it should take place in their “backyard.” Jim Pickard writes a good article in the Financial Times about a recent survey. Majority opposes fracking without residents’ approval Plans to allow fracking companies … Continue reading Democracy in action? →

Shale gas: four myths and a truth

E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation operating in the public interest to accelerate the global transition to sustainable development, has produced an important briefing note and infographic on shale gas. Some argue that the solution to rising energy prices and energy security concerns lies not in cutting demand for energy imports by improving energy efficiency whilst … Continue reading Shale gas: four myths and a truth →

Quote of the week

This week the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK, George Osborne, presented this year’s budget. Here is a startling quote from his speech in the House of Commons: We need to cut our energy costs. We’re going to do this by investing in new sources of energy: new nuclear power, renewables, and a shale … Continue reading Quote of the week →

No time to delay . . .

Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Environment Programme, is worried about any delays to a shift to a low carbon economy. Suzanne Goldenberg writes in the Guardian about Steiner’s recent comments about is worry that transition fuels, including the rush for shale gas, will have a serious impact on the transition to renewables. Achim … Continue reading No time to delay . . . →

Nicholas Stern answers . . .

For last week’s World Energy Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, Nicholas Stern, the economist and academic and author of the Stern Report on the economics of climate change, was asked several questions related to energy and climate policy by the UK’s Independent. The Big Questions: Is fracking the answer to the UK’s energy needs? … Continue reading Nicholas Stern answers . . . →

New Chatham House report on shale gas

Paul Stevens, Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House, a renowned think-tank on international affairs, recently published an excellent new report on shale gas in the UK. There have been several parliamentary inquiries into shale gas operations in the United Kingdom. The House of Commons Select Committee most recently reported in April 2013. In June 2013, the … Continue reading New Chatham House report on shale gas →

Being irrational and “religious” in opposing fossil fuel development

The heat is being turned up in Britain to ensure that the country becomes a world leader in fossil fuel production from fracking. Now, in an article by Patrick Wintour in the Guardian, the Prime Minister is saying that those opposing are irrational. There can be a NIMBY attitude but it hardly seems to me … Continue reading Being irrational and “religious” in opposing fossil fuel development →