Scottish government bans fracking after public opposition

Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse says allowing unconventional extraction of coal and gas would put climate goals at risk

The Scottish government has banned fracking after a consultation found overwhelming public opposition and little economic justification for the industry.

Paul Wheelhouse, the Scottish energy minister, told MSPs that allowing fracking would undermine the government's ambitions to deeply cut Scotland's climate emissions, and would lead to unjustifiable environmental damage.