More than 40,000 have told the Scottish Government they want an outright ban on fracking.

Environmental groups representing around 150,000 thousand people in Scotland have called on people to add their voice to the clamour for the prohibition of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction in the last 12 hours of a Holyrood consulation on the issue, which closes at midnight tonight (31 May).

Communities and campaign groups have been out on the streets, holding public meetings, film screenings and other events over the four month period of the Scottish Government consultation.

Donald Campbell, chair of campign group the Broad Alliance said: “The symbolic handover by the Broad Alliance of their submission to the Consultation on Unconventional Oil and Gas is the culmination of years of dogged determination and diligent research into this method of fossil fuel extraction.

“The submission states unequivocally that communities across the length and breadth of the country completely reject any form of Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction. We call on the Minister to listen to the people of Scotland and ban it completely.”

Scottish Environment Link, a coalition of green groups, says fracking and related procedures carry demonstrable risks to the climate, the environment and public health.

Environment Link said for a hydrocarbon rich country like Scotland to open up a new source of fossil fuels while it remains committed to continued exploitation of North Sea oil and gas reserves would be irresponsible and run counter to the Scottish Government’s efforts to be a world leader on climate action.

Meanwhile, as evidence of the harmful impacts of UOG extraction continues to mount, the industry remains unable to demonstrate its safety in relation to impacts on human health and the environment.

Environment Link’s Mary Church encouraged people to respond to the consultation, and said: “Scottish Environment Link was at the forefront of calling for a precautionary approach to fracking, and now member groups representing the views of around 150,000 people in Scotland have come together to call on the Scottish Government to prohibit unconventional oil and gas because of the whole host of risks the industry poses to our environment.

“It simply doesn’t make sense to open up a new frontier of fossil fuels when the science is clear that we must decarbonise our energy systems to avoid catastrophic global warming. For a hydrocarbon-rich, energy exporter like Scotland to do so would fly in the face of the government’s carbon reduction and climate justice commitments.

“While evidence of the harmful impacts of UOG extraction grows, a precautionary approach requires that we say no to this industry. We urge the Scottish Government to listen to the tens of thousands of people across the country who have made their voices heard through the consultation, and act to protect our environment.”

Scottish Environment Link groups include Buglife, Cairngorms Campaign, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Froglife Scotland, Nourish Scotland, Planning Democracy, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Wild Land Group, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Woodland Trust Scotland and WWF Scotland.

Source: thirdforcenews.org.uk