The process of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas (known as ‘Fracking’) is a harmful distraction from investment in clean and renewable energy. The consequences of fracking will be harmful for our borough, our region and our planet.

The environmental risks of ‘Fracking’ are numerous. We know that in order to best protect ourselves against runaway climate change, the majority of fossil fuel reserves must remain in the ground. Fracking makes a mockery of this imperative and produces many other side effects that are detrimental to our environment. According to the British Geological Survey, “Groundwater may be potentially contaminated by extraction of shale gas from the constituents of shale gas itself, from the formulation and deep injection of water containing a cocktail of additives used for hydraulic fracturing and from flow-back water which may have a high content of saline formation water.” In England, groundwater is used to supply a third of our drinking water according to Friends of the Earth. Fracking is an intensively industrial process with around 50 heavy goods vehicle movements a day, usually in areas where infrastructure is already poor. There are other risks to the environment including a higher risk of earthquakes - recent reports from Lancashire and the Netherlands confirm these risks - and air pollution.

Extensive production of shale gas is likely to undermine investment in renewable practices, which will substantially hinder the UKs ability to decarbonize its economy and fulfil the requirements of the UK Climate Change Act (2008) and the Paris Climate Agreement (2015).

Fracking, along with similar processes such as coal-bed methane extraction, are not only worse for the environment than renewable energy practices but they also contribute less economic benefit. It was suggested by the previous Government that Fracking could create 70,000 UK jobs. However, numbers from the USA suggest that just 4 new jobs are creating per new fracking well, meaning that a huge number of wells would needed to reach 70,000 jobs. 

This Council notes that:

-   Hydraulic Fracturing presents a clear threat to our local environment and exacerbates global climate change;

-   This Council accepts the IPCC’s conclusions that we must keep climate change within an additional 1.5 degrees Celsius;

-   That the Public Attitudes Tracker Survey showed that only 19% of the British public support Fracking whereas 81% support renewable energy;

-   Investment in renewable energy creates far more jobs than shale gas extraction.

This Council resolves to:

-   Reaffirm its opposition to Fracking in Trafford;

-   Lobby against the Government’s proposals for Fracking;

-   Request the Leader of the Council write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy outlining this Councils opposition to Fracking and lobbying for investment in renewable energy;

-   Request the Leader of the Council write to the Leaders of Local Authorities in Greater Manchester and the Mayor of Greater Manchester asking them to join Trafford in opposing Fracking and lobbying the Government for renewable energy investment;

-   Identify ways for this Council to lead by example in the development of low-carbon energy supplies.

(Note: Prior to consideration of this item, the time being 8.41 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the mover and seconder would have a maximum of 2 minutes each and that all other speeches would be limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“The process of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas (known as ‘Fracking’) is a harmful distraction from investment in clean and renewable energy. The consequences of fracking will be harmful for our borough, our region and our planet.

The environmental risks of ‘Fracking’ are numerous. We know that in order to best protect ourselves against runaway climate change, the majority of fossil fuel reserves must remain in the ground. Fracking makes a mockery of this imperative and produces many other side effects that are detrimental to our environment. According to the British Geological Survey, “Groundwater may be potentially contaminated by extraction of shale gas from the constituents of shale gas itself, from the formulation and deep injection of water containing a cocktail of additives used for hydraulic fracturing and from flow-back water which may have a high content of saline formation water.” In England, groundwater is used to supply a third of our drinking water according to Friends of the Earth. Fracking is an intensively industrial process with around 50 heavy goods vehicle movements a day, usually in areas where infrastructure is already poor. There are other risks to the environment including a higher risk of earthquakes - recent reports from Lancashire and the Netherlands confirm these risks - and air pollution.

Extensive production of shale gas is likely to undermine investment in renewable practices, which will substantially hinder the UKs ability to decarbonize its economy and fulfil the requirements of the UK Climate Change Act (2008) and the Paris Climate Agreement (2015).

Fracking, along with similar processes such as coal-bed methane extraction, are not only worse for the environment than renewable energy practices but they also contribute less economic benefit. It was suggested by the previous Government that Fracking could create 70,000 UK jobs. However, numbers from the USA suggest that just 4 new jobs are creating per new fracking well, meaning that a huge number of wells would needed to reach 70,000 jobs. 

This Council notes that:

-   Hydraulic Fracturing presents a clear threat to our local environment and exacerbates global climate change;

-   This Council accepts the IPCC’s conclusions that we must keep climate change within an additional 1.5 degrees Celsius;

-   That the Public Attitudes Tracker Survey showed that only 19% of the British public support Fracking whereas 81% support renewable energy;

-   Investment in renewable energy creates far more jobs than shale gas extraction.

This Council resolves to:

-   Reaffirm its opposition to Fracking in Trafford;

-   Lobby against the Government’s proposals for Fracking;

-   Request the Leader of the Council write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy outlining this Councils opposition to Fracking and lobbying for investment in renewable energy;

-   Request the Leader of the Council write to the Leaders of Local Authorities in Greater Manchester and the Mayor of Greater Manchester asking them to join Trafford in opposing Fracking and lobbying the Government for renewable energy investment;

-   Identify ways for this Council to lead by example in the development of low-carbon energy supplies.”

Following speeches of support, the Motion was agreed with the unanimous consent of the Council.

RESOLVED: That the process of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas (known as ‘Fracking’) is a harmful distraction from investment in clean and renewable energy. The consequences of fracking will be harmful for our borough, our region and our planet.

The environmental risks of ‘Fracking’ are numerous. We know that in order to best protect ourselves against runaway climate change, the majority of fossil fuel reserves must remain in the ground. Fracking makes a mockery of this imperative and produces many other side effects that are detrimental to our environment. According to the British Geological Survey, “Groundwater may be potentially contaminated by extraction of shale gas from the constituents of shale gas itself, from the formulation and deep injection of water containing a cocktail of additives used for hydraulic fracturing and from flow-back water which may have a high content of saline formation water.” In England, groundwater is used to supply a third of our drinking water according to Friends of the Earth. Fracking is an intensively industrial process with around 50 heavy goods vehicle movements a day, usually in areas where infrastructure is already poor. There are other risks to the environment including a higher risk of earthquakes - recent reports from Lancashire and the Netherlands confirm these risks - and air pollution.

Extensive production of shale gas is likely to undermine investment in renewable practices, which will substantially hinder the UKs ability to decarbonize its economy and fulfil the requirements of the UK Climate Change Act (2008) and the Paris Climate Agreement (2015).

Fracking, along with similar processes such as coal-bed methane extraction, are not only worse for the environment than renewable energy practices but they also contribute less economic benefit. It was suggested by the previous Government that Fracking could create 70,000 UK jobs. However, numbers from the USA suggest that just 4 new jobs are creating per new fracking well, meaning that a huge number of wells would needed to reach 70,000 jobs. 

This Council notes that:

-   Hydraulic Fracturing presents a clear threat to our local environment and exacerbates global climate change;

-   This Council accepts the IPCC’s conclusions that we must keep climate change within an additional 1.5 degrees Celsius;

-   That the Public Attitudes Tracker Survey showed that only 19% of the British public support Fracking whereas 81% support renewable energy;

-   Investment in renewable energy creates far more jobs than shale gas extraction.

This Council resolves to:

-   Reaffirm its opposition to Fracking in Trafford;

-   Lobby against the Government’s proposals for Fracking;

-   Request the Leader of the Council write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy outlining this Councils opposition to Fracking and lobbying for investment in renewable energy;

-   Request the Leader of the Council write to the Leaders of Local Authorities in Greater Manchester and the Mayor of Greater Manchester asking them to join Trafford in opposing Fracking and lobbying the Government for renewable energy investment;

-   Identify ways for this Council to lead by example in the development of low-carbon energy supplies.