The Prime Minister’s assessment of opponents of fracking for shale gas as “irrational” was challenged by the Green MP Caroline Lucas today, who warned burning more fossil fuels would lead to climate catastrophe.
Brighton Pavilion MP Lucas said climate scientists agreed a switch to non-carbon energy was vital to halt damage to the environment and the extraction of natural gas from fracking would be of no assistance.
Earlier this week David Cameron accused some fracking opponents of being driven by an “irrational” reluctance to see any new carbon-based energy technology succeed.
“On Tuesday, the Prime Minister said people objecting to shale gas on climate grounds are irrational, yet climate scientists, experts and investors are all warning that the vast majority of existing fossil fuel reserves must remain underground, they are unburnable, if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change,” Lucas said at Thursday’s Energy and Climate Change questions in the Commons, challenging the UK Energy Minister, Michael Fallon.
“Just today we hear of the BP report that is also saying shale gas will not cut emissions – that essentially fuel switching does not make a difference, coal just gets exported and is emitted elsewhere.
“In the light of that will you tell us whether you agree with the Prime Minister, do you think climate scientists are irrational as well?”
The Energy Minister replied shale gas was preferred to the extraction of coal, as one of the greener fossil fuels available.
“We need to reduce our dependence on volatile, wholesale international prices of gas and oil and we need to have more home-grown energy here, under our own control,” Fallon added.