Fracking supporters side-step ASA process before Lancashire decision

A leak to The Times has revealed that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has made a draft recommendation that complaints against Friends of the Earth – made by fracking company Cuadrilla and two well-known supporters of fracking – should be upheld.

This leak, relating to a Friends of the Earth fundraising leaflet, is an outrageous attempt to sidestep the ASA’s decision-making process. This draft document is not the ASA’s final decision. The ASA asked for further information and is still considering evidence submitted by Friends of the Earth. They are due to make a decision in the next month or so.

Just last week a previous decision by the ASA to ban a Greenpeace advert highlighting the risks of fracking was overturned because of expert opinion.

It is important that the ASA is given time to properly consider the evidence so that it has the best chance of understanding the topic and coming to the right decision.

Friends of the Earth has submitted 12 pages of evidence, with over 100 references including many to peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our leaflet – all of which stand up to scrutiny.

The timing of this leak is interesting. The government’s decision about whether to give fracking the green light in Lancashire, against the wishes of Lancashire Council and local people, is expected this week.

We are urgently seeking assurances from the ASA that it will condemn the leaking of its draft ruling and make sure the public is clear that no decision has been reached yet on the issue.

Evidence stacking up against fracking

The bottom line is that fracking poses huge risks to people and the environment. That’s why it has been banned or is on hold in France, Bulgaria, Holland, Scotland and Wales.

Fracking is not compatible with tackling climate change. World leaders, in the Paris Agreement, committed to keeping global temperature rises to well under 2 degrees, and to pursue efforts to keep them to 1.5 degrees. To do this, at least 80% of known fossil fuel reserves will have to stay in the ground. Encouraging a brand new free-for-all fossil fuel industry will only make a dangerous problem worse. The government has said it will ratify the Paris climate change agreement by Christmas – but this won’t be worth the paper it’s written on if it pushes ahead with fracking.

People don’t want fracking

This leak is simply a distraction from the growing evidence of the risks of fracking, and increasing opposition. David Cameron said his goverment was “all out for fracking” and Theresa May has signalled her support too. That’s not what local people want – everywhere fracking is proposed, local people oppose it.

Government polling repeatedly shows low support for fracking, and an opinion poll for Friends of the Earth showed that only a third of people would support fracking in their area even if households were paid up to £10,000.

That’s why Friends of the Earth will continue to support communities in stopping fracking, and we will continue to campaign to make sure fossil fuels stay in the ground.

We won’t let the industry stop us

Together we have shown that we can stop fracking. It isn’t a surprise that the industry wants to distract us because despite trying for 5 years, we have stopped them getting any gas out of the ground – and we won’t stop now.

Stand up to fracking

Please sign the People’s Declaration against fracking.

Post written by Tony Bosworth, 26th September 2016