Unconventional oil and gas: strategic environmental assessment - post adoption statement

3. Integration of Environmental Considerations 

3.1.1 The Scottish Government has taken a cautious, evidence-led approach to considering unconventional oil and gas (‘UOG’) in Scotland. This included commissioning a report by an Independent Expert Scientific Panel^[8], which was published in July 2014. In January 2015, we put in place a moratorium on UOG development in Scotland which prevented hydraulic fracturing and coalbed methane extraction taking place. The moratorium allowed us to undertake a far-reaching investigation into UOG, which included evidence gathering to examine the potential environmental, health, and economic impacts. These research projects included, but were not limited to, research on compatibility with Scottish greenhouse gas emissions targets, and on understanding and monitoring induced seismic activity. Further information on this evidence gathering stage is available online.^[9]

3.1.2 In January 2017 we launched Talking “Fracking”: a consultation on unconventional oil and gas which received more than 60,000 responses.  The results of that consultation and of the evidence gathered led to the development of our PPP on UOG, which was announced by the Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy in a statement to the Scottish Parliament on 3 October 2017. The Scottish Government commissioned independent consultants LUC to undertake the SEA, which was published for consultation alongside an updated preferred policy position statement and partial BRIA in October 2018.   

3.1.3 In light of the 2018 consultation responses, the Scottish Government published the consultation addendum which updated our position on the SEA reasonable alternatives and provided further clarification including on the objectives of the PPP. Those objectives are expressed in the consultation addendum as follows: “To ensure that in both the planning sphere and in relation to Ministers’ onshore oil and gas licensing and regulatory powers, policy should (i) minimise the potential risk of environmental and health impacts by adopting a precautionary approach; (ii) promote the achievement of our energy transition goals; and (iii) maximise the prospects of meeting the Scottish Government’s carbon emissions and climate change targets”.

3.1.4 Our finalised policy statement sets out the particular concerns identified by the Scottish Government as the basis of the policy of no support for the development of unconventional oil and gas in Scotland.  These include the insufficiency of epidemiological evidence on health impacts highlighted by Health Protection Scotland; the concerns from communities across Scotland regarding the disruption they anticipate on matters such as transport impacts, risks of pollution, and on their general health and wellbeing; and, concern regarding the compatibility of an unconventional oil and gas industry with Scotland’s climate change targets.