Campaigners delivered a letter to Downing Street this afternoon, signed by more than 8,000 people, calling for an immediate halt on fracking in the UK.

The signatories, who include politicians, academics, community groups and residents in affected areas, also demanded a halt to coal bed methane activities and the use of acid to release oil and gas.

The letter said:

“Developing an unconventional oil and gas industry in the UK will result in unacceptable negative impacts on the environment, local communities, public health and the economy. “The greenhouse gas emissions resulting from this new fossil fuel industry will also increase climate change at a time when the UK needs to be investing heavily in clean renewable energy and moving rapidly towards a low-carbon economy.”

The letter was delivered during a march and rally in London marking the start of the latest UN climate talks in Poland, which aim to decide the ‘rulebook’ for the Paris Climate Agreement.

The signatories comprised:

32 politicians

17 academics

20 non-governmental organisations

39 community groups from across the UK

13 Scottish community councils

18 international organisations

9 leading environmental campaigners

7,922 people in UK areas affected by unconventional oil and gas operations

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Barry Gardiner MP, the shadow secretary of state for international trade, energy and climate change, supported the calls for a fracking ban:

“Action now could not be more important. … We know that rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented change is needed. Why does this government continue to support fracking? It is economically, environmentally and ethically wrong. We must ban fracking, invest in a low-carbon economy and create a net zero future.”

Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“The UK must show political leadership by ditching climate wrecking policies like fracking and airport expansion, and committing to the bold and radical action we need to save the planet.”

Climate march from the Polish embassy to Downing Street, 1 December 2018. Photo: Frack Free United Climate march from the Polish embassy to Downing Street, 1 December 2018. Photo: Frack Free United Climate rally outside the Polish embassy, 1 December 2018. Photo: Frack Free United Climate rally outside the Polish embassy, 1 December 2018. Photo: Frack Free United Climate rally outside the Polish embassy, 1 December 2018. Photo: Frack Free United Climate march from the Polish embassy to Downing Street, 1 December 2018. Photo: Sue Gough Climate rally outside the Polish embassy, 1 December 2018. Photo: Sue Gough

Steve Mason from Frack Free United said:

“There is heavy opposition [to fracking] already, with only a few active sites in the UK. Thousands of communities are in the firing line. It’s time to halt fracking in the UK and secure our future energy strategy without impacting thousands of communities across the country and locking us to a fracked gas policy for years to come.”