In CPRE's view the political case for allowing exploitation of shale oil here is even weaker than it is for shale gas: whilst the Government has made much play of the need for reducing the country's dependence for gas supplies from Russia and other potentially volatile parts of the world, that argument simply does not apply to oil. After all, the global market offers ample long term oil supplies from multiple sources, not least from our own North Sea assets [just ask Alec Salmond or Nicola Sturgeon!]. Nor would the production of Wealden shale oil bring down world oil prices. So there is simply no public need for the oil industry to look to exploit a whole new possible source of reserves lying under the Weald - one of the most beautiful and heavily protected areas of the country.
Even former Environment Agency boss, Lord Chris Smith, says publicly that he is "hugely sceptical" about the case for shale oil fracking in the UK. This from the man who is now head of an independent think tank on hydrocarbon regulation that is funded by the UK Onshore Oil and Gas industry!
Looming over it all is the undoubted reality that we are going to have to increase the drive towards renewable energy sources and to leave large reserves of oil and gas for ever unexploited if we are to meet our international climate change targets. There is general agreement within the scientific community that a more than 2% rise in global temperatures would trigger serious, widespread and irreversible damage across the globe and significantly affect us all for the worse. That is why the UK and many other nations have committed to ensure that CO2 emissions are reduced sufficiently by 2050 to avoid this catastrophe, and why the Government has established the Climate Change Commission to advise the Government on whether it is line to meet its climate change commitments.
Sooner or later Governments around the world are going to have to start showing leadership in reining in the oil companies' zeal to find and exploit new sources of damaging hydrocarbons. There is no significant national economic benefit in its extraction and much environmental risk. We call on the new UK Government to show leadership by taking steps to dis-incentivise shale oil exploitation beneath the Weald.
And CPRE Sussex's message to the oil industry is simple: "Leave the Weald Basin well alone. We do not need you here."
Meanwhile, we have updated our branch policy guidance on the main issues that we will address in responding to any planning application submitted to explore for oil and gas within the County. The core environmental issues that concern CPRE's approach at national and branch level remain. We will, for example, continue normally to oppose any application to explore for shale oil (or gas) lying beneath the South Downs National Park or the High Weald AONB or SSSIs whether or not fracking techniques are required. Our fuller policy guidance can be viewed below.
Photo © Barry Goble
