The Liberal Democrats will today [28 March 2019] lead a debate in
the House of Commons calling for an end to fracking because of
its adverse impact on the environment and its incompatibility
with tackling the climate crisis.
Liberal Democrat Climate Change Spokesperson , who is leading the backbench
debate, is also expected to warn the Conservative Government’s
proposed changes to planning permission for fracking sites would
deprive local authorities of their “historic rights of
self-determination.”
The debate comes hot on the heels of the #FridaysForFuture
movement which saw Swedish student Greta Thunberg inspire
hundreds of thousands of school pupils across the world to strike
in aid of tackling climate change, including in the UK.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Liberal Democrat Climate Change
Spokesperson said:
“There is no doubt that fracking causes a massive amount of harm
to both the immediate environment and our wider countryside,
bringing with it the potential threat of earthquakes, water
pollution, and green spaces transforming into industrial
landscapes.
“Since the Conservative Government’s proposals on shale gas were
announced, 300,000 people have signed petitions against their
plans and forty councils have passed motions to reject them. They
rightly demand better and it would be criminal to ignore
them.
“The Liberal Democrats stand with the tens of thousands of young
people marching to demand the climate crisis is adverted. We are
categorically against fracking, and the damage it would inflict
on our environment. It's time Conservative Ministers listened,
and ushered in an age of renewables.”
ENDS.
Notes to editors:
Please see a note on ’s backbench debate below.
Motion: That this House has considered use of permitted
development and the nationally significant infrastructure project
regime for shale gas exploration and production.
Relevant Documents: Eighth Report of the Housing, Communities and
Local Government Committee, Session 2017-19, Planning guidance on
fracking, HC 767
Notes: The subjects for these debates were determined by the
Backbench Business Committee
