WWF said that, due to concerns over ground and surface water contamination attributed to shale gas drilling, as well as greenhouse gas emissions associated with its extraction, there should be a moratorium on shale gas production in the UK.
Cuadrilla said there were up to 200 trillion cubic feet of gas under the ground in the area, and that as many as 400 wells could be drilled over the next nine years, and up to 800 over 16 years, if gas extraction was successful.
Responding to the reports, Jenny Banks, Energy and Climate Change Policy Officer at WWF-UK, said:
“There has still not been enough research into the issue of water contamination by shale gas extraction. A Cornell University study also suggested that the greenhouse gas footprint of shale gas could be as bad as or worse than coal. The government should at the very least halt shale gas exploration in Britain until more research can be undertaken on both the climate change impacts and contamination risks associated with shale gas"
"In addition, WWF believes Chris Huhne was right when he said recently that we should aim to reduce our dependence on oil and gas. If we're serious about tackling climate change, we should be looking at building up a strong renewable industry in Britain, not another fossil fuel industry."
Earlier this year WWF gave evidence to the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee’s inquiry on shale gas, concluding that due to concerns over ground and surface water contamination attributed to shale gas drilling and greenhouse gas emissions, there should be a moratorium on shale gas production in the UK.
UK water companies are invited to join an upcoming webinar which will explore how the sector can take indirect potable reuse (IPR) from concept to full-scale operational reality.
James Sumsion, CEO of predictive water intelligence specialists Kohtari, says the water sector needs to take a giant leap forward, so that it can anticipate and act upon water quality issues - rather than merely react.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.