Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of fracking proposals on (a) carbon emissions and (b) the UK’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has considered whether shale gas production at a significant scale can be compatible with the UK’s carbon budgets. The CCC concluded that it can be compatible if certain conditions are met, which have been set out as three “tests"[1]. We believe that our robust regulatory regime and determination to meet our carbon budgets means UK shale development is compatible with our goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The Climate Change Act 2008 sets a domestic target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050 (based on 1990 levels). In October 2018, following publication of the IPCC’s 1.5°C Special Report, we commissioned the CCC’s advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emissions reduction targets. We expect this to be published on the 2^nd of May.

[1] https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/onshore-petroleum-the-compatibility-of-uk-onshore-petroleum-with-meeting-carbon-budgets/