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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/03/scottish-government-bans-fracking-scotland-paul-wheelhouse
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| Scottish government bans fracking after public opposition | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish government has banned fracking after a consultation found overwhelming public opposition and little economic justification for the industry. | The Scottish government has banned fracking after a consultation found overwhelming public opposition and little economic justification for the industry. |
| Paul Wheelhouse, the Scottish energy minister, told MSPs that allowing fracking would undermine the government’s ambitions to deeply cut climate emissions, and would lead to unjustifiable environmental damage. | Paul Wheelhouse, the Scottish energy minister, told MSPs that allowing fracking would undermine the government’s ambitions to deeply cut climate emissions, and would lead to unjustifiable environmental damage. |
| Although Scotland needed natural gas for heating and its chemical industries, economists with KPMG had estimated that allowing unconventional coal and gas extraction to take place would only increase Scotland’s GDP by about 0.1%, but cause environmental ruin in areas where it took place. | Although Scotland needed natural gas for heating and its chemical industries, economists with KPMG had estimated that allowing unconventional coal and gas extraction to take place would only increase Scotland’s GDP by about 0.1%, but cause environmental ruin in areas where it took place. |
| A public consultation on fracking policy attracted more than 65,000 responses, with about 65% of those from communities targeted by the fracking industry. Of those, 99% of respondents opposed it, Wheelhouse said. | A public consultation on fracking policy attracted more than 65,000 responses, with about 65% of those from communities targeted by the fracking industry. Of those, 99% of respondents opposed it, Wheelhouse said. |
| It would cause “long-lasting negative impacts on communities”, he said, damaging public health, the environment and Scotland’s climate goals. A longstanding moratorium in Scotland on allowing planning permission would be made permanent, Wheelhouse added. | It would cause “long-lasting negative impacts on communities”, he said, damaging public health, the environment and Scotland’s climate goals. A longstanding moratorium in Scotland on allowing planning permission would be made permanent, Wheelhouse added. |
| Mary Church, the head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “This is a victory for the environment and for local communities fighting fracking. | Mary Church, the head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “This is a victory for the environment and for local communities fighting fracking. |
| “This is a huge win for the anti-fracking movement, particularly for those on the frontline of this dirty industry here in Scotland, who have been working for a ban these last six years.” | “This is a huge win for the anti-fracking movement, particularly for those on the frontline of this dirty industry here in Scotland, who have been working for a ban these last six years.” |