UK Shale Gas Development Could Hit Climate Goals, Report Warns

摘要

The development of shale gas reserves in the UK — where unconventional explorer Cuadrilla Resources has hinted at massive re- sources in northwestern England — could stop the country reaching its climate goals and hurt investment in renewable energy, according to a new report. If just one currently licensed shale gas area in the UK were to be fully developed by hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" — a controversial reser- voir stimulation technique — it could account "for up to 15% of the UK's emissions budget through to 2050," the report commissioned by the Co-operative ethical investment group says.