A UK government report that found shale gas extraction increased air pollution was not published for many years , and was only released days after fracking in Lancashire was approved . The report , drawn up by the government ’s Air Quality Expert Group , was presented to ministers in 2015 but was only published on 27 July 2018 . What does this mean long term (aside from geo-engineering nonsense)? Fracking in Cuadrilla was granted a permit under a new regulatory regime on 24 July 2018 . The report found that new fracking wells would see nitrogen dioxide emissions rising by 1 - 4 % and volatile organic compounds rising by 1 - 3 % , with local impacts potentially much higher .
A UK government report that found shale gas extraction increased air pollution was not published for many years , and was only released days after fracking in Lancashire was approved . The report , drawn up by the government ’s Air Quality Expert Group , was presented to ministers in 2015 but was only published on 27 July 2018 . Fracking in Cuadrilla was granted a permit under a new regulatory regime on 24 July 2018 . The report found that new fracking wells would see nitrogen dioxide emissions rising by 1 - 4 % and volatile organic compounds rising by 1 - 3 % , with local impacts potentially much higher .