Task Force on Shale Gas - Revision history

Melissa Jones: /* Lobbying firms */

2019-06-27T07:21:41Z

Lobbying firms

Melissa Jones: /* Former panel members */

2019-06-27T07:21:08Z

Former panel members

Melissa Jones at 07:19, 27 June 2019

2019-06-27T07:19:31Z

Melissa Jones: /* Advisory experts */

2016-10-25T03:56:46Z

Advisory experts

Melissa Jones: /* Resources */

2016-10-25T03:56:06Z

Resources

Melissa Jones: /* Reports */

2016-10-25T03:55:19Z

Reports

Melissa Jones: /* 1. 'Planning, Regulation and Local Engagement' */

2016-10-25T03:53:47Z

1. 'Planning, Regulation and Local Engagement'

Melissa Jones at 03:52, 25 October 2016

2016-10-25T03:52:31Z

Melissa Jones at 03:51, 25 October 2016

2016-10-25T03:51:23Z

Melissa Jones: /* 4. 'The Economic Impacts of a UK Shale Gas Industry' */

2016-10-25T03:49:51Z

4. 'The Economic Impacts of a UK Shale Gas Industry'

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 ==Lobbying firms==
-*[[Edelman]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Edelman Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 29 January 2015 </ref> manages the Task Force's Secretariat.
+*[[Edelman]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Edelman Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 29 January 2015 </ref> managed the Task Force's Secretariat.
 ==Affiliations==

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 ====Former panel members====
-*Baroness [[Patience Wheatcroft]] was a task force member when it launched but had resigned by the following month, ostensibly to concentrate on other activities. <ref> Email to Melissa Jones, Spinwatch from the Secretariat of the Taskforce on Shale Gas, 11 March 2015. </ref> Wheatcroft is a former non-executive director of [[Barclays]] plc, which has financial interests in shale gas.
+*Baroness [[Patience Wheatcroft]] was a task force member when it launched but had resigned by the following month, ostensibly to concentrate on other activities. <ref> Email to Melissa Jones, Spinwatch from the Secretariat of the Taskforce on Shale Gas, 11 March 2015. </ref> Wheatcroft is a former non-executive director of [[Barclays]] plc, which had financial interests in shale gas including via its private equity arm's 97 per cent holding in UK firm [[Third Energy]].
 ====Advisory experts====

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-{{‪Template:Fracking badge‬}}The UK '''Task Force on Shale Gas''' is an oil and gas industry-funded group set up in October 2014. In its own words, it aims to be 'a transparent, trusted, independent and impartial platform for public scrutiny, discussion and information about shale gas exploration and production in the UK'.
+{{‪Template:Fracking badge‬}}The UK '''Task Force on Shale Gas''' was an oil and gas industry-funded group set up in October 2014. In its own words, it aims to be 'a transparent, trusted, independent and impartial platform for public scrutiny, discussion and information about shale gas exploration and production in the UK'.
-Headed by [[Lord Chris Smith]], a Labour peer who is a former shadow environment secretary and the former chair of the UK [[Environment Agency]].  Its secretariat is managed by heavyweight lobbying firm [[Edelman]].
+The task force was headed by [[Lord Chris Smith]], a Labour peer who is a former shadow environment secretary and ex-chair of the UK [[Environment Agency]].  Its secretariat was managed by heavyweight lobbying firm [[Edelman]].
-The task force published four reports in 2015.  These covered the local impacts of shale gas (March), its impact on local environment and health ( July), on climate change (September) and the economic impacts (December). No reports have been published since.
+The task force published four reports in 2015.  These covered the local impacts of shale gas (released March), its impact on local environment and health (July), on climate change (September) and the economic impacts (December). No reports have been published since.
 ==Funding==
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 :Responsibility for ensuring impartiality and independence from funders is vested in the Task Force Chair, Lord Chris Smith. Funders receive a report of Task Force activities and progress from the Chair every 6 months.
-The Task Force has so far received £650,000 in funding from these companies:
+By October 2014 the Task Force had received £650,000 in funding from these companies:
 *[[Cuadrilla]] <ref name="funding"> [http://www.shaletaskforce.uk/assets/pdf/3d8ff93f5421c7f2da4a841137dd989e/Our_Funding.pdf Our Funding], Document updated 20 October 2014, Task Force on Shale Gas website, accessed 22 October 2014 </ref>
 *[[Centrica]]  <ref name="funding"/>
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 ===3. 'Assessing the Impact of Shale Gas on Climate Change'===
-Published 16 September 2015'<ref> [https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/8879c0b838c6e09864638cbd6902b190:7f5b9e74c66410cff3253321938981d6/right-report.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Third Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref> The third report argued that fracking could be used as an alternative to coal, which produces more carbon emissions, while the UK transitions to renewable energy. The industry should not however receive public subsidy or tax breaks, and all tax revenues should be divested into developing low-carbon energy innovations. Green campaigners said in response that pursuing fracking would increase the UK's net fossil fuel use. The report also criticised the government for cutting subsidies to certain renewables, and called for more investment in carbon capture technologies.<ref> Fiona Harvey, [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/16/shale-gas-fracking-go-ahead-in-uk-says-taskforce Shale gas fracking should go ahead in UK, says taskforce], ''The Guardian'', 16 September, accessed 19 September 2016 </ref>
+Published 16 September 2015'<ref> [https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/8879c0b838c6e09864638cbd6902b190:7f5b9e74c66410cff3253321938981d6/right-report.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Third Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref> The third report argued that fracking could be used as an alternative to coal, which produces more carbon emissions, while the UK transitions to renewable energy. The industry should not, however, receive public subsidy or tax breaks, and all tax revenues should be divested into developing low-carbon energy innovations. Green campaigners said in response that pursuing fracking would increase the UK's net fossil fuel use. The report also criticised the government for cutting subsidies to certain renewables, and called for more investment in carbon capture technologies.<ref> Fiona Harvey, [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/16/shale-gas-fracking-go-ahead-in-uk-says-taskforce Shale gas fracking should go ahead in UK, says taskforce], ''The Guardian'', 16 September, accessed 19 September 2016 </ref>
 ===4. 'The Economic Impacts of a UK Shale Gas Industry'===
-Published 15 December 2015. The task force's final report,  with a summary of its recommendations. The report calls for an expansion of exploratory drilling to better determine how much gas can be recovered. It says a shale gas industry could create jobs and energy security in the UK, but also have a negative effect on property prices. <ref>[https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/e8f75f1fc890e7798b5835178111a742:1ffd504a15ac7f36d0f4a2879862ec60/task-force-on-shale-gas-final-report-economic-impacts.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Final Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref>, and ''Final Conclusions and Recommendations'.  <ref> [https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/d6f5f84dbfecbe9c22bddbc7f93d31bc:cb2ee01d6a9d7a96cd7d10262971d586/task-force-on-shale-gas-final-conclusions-and-recommendations.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Final Conclusions and Recommendations], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref>The report was criticised by [[Greenpeace]] for undermining the UK's efforts on climate change, days after Paris Agreement conference.
+Published 15 December 2015. The task force's final report,  with a summary of its recommendations. The report calls for an expansion of exploratory drilling to better determine how much gas can be recovered. It says a shale gas industry could create jobs and energy security in the UK, but also have a negative effect on property prices. <ref>[https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/e8f75f1fc890e7798b5835178111a742:1ffd504a15ac7f36d0f4a2879862ec60/task-force-on-shale-gas-final-report-economic-impacts.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Final Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref>, and ''Final Conclusions and Recommendations'.  <ref> [https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/d6f5f84dbfecbe9c22bddbc7f93d31bc:cb2ee01d6a9d7a96cd7d10262971d586/task-force-on-shale-gas-final-conclusions-and-recommendations.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Final Conclusions and Recommendations], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref>The report was criticised by [[Greenpeace]] for undermining the UK's efforts on climate change, days after the Paris Agreement conference.
 ==People==
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 *[[Michael Holgate]] is an independent energy consultant with experience working in fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors. He spent 15 years working as a drilling fluids consultant in the Orkney Islands. He is a former chair of the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum. He then worked in various advisory and management roles for [[Shell]], [[BP]], [[Agip]], the Georgian government and the EU's INOGATE energy program. He has written on the development of shale gas energy.
 *Professor [[Alan Riley]] teaches at The City Law School, City University of London, and is a leading competition law scholar.  He co-founded and chairs the Europe-wide Competition Law Scholars Forum and is co-editor of the Competition Law Review. He also specialises in energy law, and is researching market liberalisation and regulation in both Russian and European Union gas markets.
-*Dr [[Rob Ward]] is holds a PhD in Hydrogeology and Environmental Radiochemistry awarded by the University of East Anglia. He has expertise in groundwater science and environmental regulation. He joined the British Geological Survey as Head of Groundwater Science in 2010, and was appointed Science Director in 2013. He was also a Senior Technical Advisor at the Environmental Agency and designed a national groundwater quality monitoring programme.  He is an Honary Professor at the University of Nottingham.
+*Dr [[Rob Ward]] holds a PhD in Hydrogeology and Environmental Radiochemistry awarded by the University of East Anglia. He has expertise in groundwater science and environmental regulation. He joined the British Geological Survey as Head of Groundwater Science in 2010, and was appointed Science Director in 2013. He was also a Senior Technical Advisor at the Environmental Agency and designed a national groundwater quality monitoring programme.  He is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham.
 ====Former advisory experts====

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 *Professor [[Sarah O’Hara]] Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Geography at the University of Nottingham, where she is currently co-director of the [[University of Nottingham]] Shale Gas Survey which explores public perceptions of shale gas extraction in the UK.
 *[[Michael Holgate]] is an independent energy consultant with experience working in fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors. He spent 15 years working as a drilling fluids consultant in the Orkney Islands. He is a former chair of the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum. He then worked in various advisory and management roles for [[Shell]], [[BP]], [[Agip]], the Georgian government and the EU's INOGATE energy program. He has written on the development of shale gas energy.
-*Professor [Alan Riley] teaches at The City Law School, City University of London, and is a leading competition law scholar.  He co-founded and chairs the Europe-wide Competition Law Scholars Forum and is co-editor of the Competition Law Review. He also specialises in energy law, and is researching market liberalisation and regulation in both Russian and European Union gas markets.
+*Professor [[Alan Riley]] teaches at The City Law School, City University of London, and is a leading competition law scholar.  He co-founded and chairs the Europe-wide Competition Law Scholars Forum and is co-editor of the Competition Law Review. He also specialises in energy law, and is researching market liberalisation and regulation in both Russian and European Union gas markets.
 *Dr [[Rob Ward]] is holds a PhD in Hydrogeology and Environmental Radiochemistry awarded by the University of East Anglia. He has expertise in groundwater science and environmental regulation. He joined the British Geological Survey as Head of Groundwater Science in 2010, and was appointed Science Director in 2013. He was also a Senior Technical Advisor at the Environmental Agency and designed a national groundwater quality monitoring programme.  He is an Honary Professor at the University of Nottingham.

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 ==Resources==
-See: [[Fracking Spads]]
+See infographics : [[Fracking Spads]] and [[Fracking lobbying firms]]
 *Melissa Jones and Andy Rowell, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5765-access-all-areas-frackers-lobbyists-and-the-revolving-door Access all areas: Westminster's (vast) fracking lobby exposed], 29 April 2015.

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 ==Reports==
 ===1. 'Planning, Regulation and Local Engagement'===
-Published '''25 March 2015'''.  The task force criticised government regulation of the industry for being 'complex and unapproachable', and called for the creation of a new independent regulator to help boost 'public confidence'. <ref> [https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/4a404397432d0de3bf00268bf5b7949f:cb9c39ad61440801d4ad547d70d5fa9e/task-force-on-shale-gas-first-interim-report.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas First Interim Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref>
+Published 25 March 2015.  The task force criticised government regulation of the industry for being 'complex and unapproachable', and called for the creation of a new independent regulator to help boost 'public confidence'. <ref> [https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/4a404397432d0de3bf00268bf5b7949f:cb9c39ad61440801d4ad547d70d5fa9e/task-force-on-shale-gas-first-interim-report.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas First Interim Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref>
 The government responded that the [[Health and Safety Executive]] and the [[Environment Agency]] already acted as independent regulators. Industry body [[UKOOG]]'s  CEO [[Ken Cronin]] welcomed the task force's recommendations and said the industry was already addressing public confidence issues.
 === 2. 'Assessing the Impact of Shale Gas on the Local Environment and Health'===
-Published 15 July 2015', the task force's second report called for greater safety and transparency measures on fracking; 'full disclosure' of all chemicals; and independent monitoring of the fracking process. It argued 'local communities have a right to know what chemicals will be used in industrial activity near to where they live and be reassured that they are being used in safe quantities.' <ref>[https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/e4d05cb29b0269c2a394685dad7516e6:c48ffe7884e9b668b8d4b7799a027874/task-force-on-shale-gas-assessing-the-impact-of-shale-gas-on-the-local-environment-and-health.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Second Interim Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref> Environmental campaigners criticised the report for failing to specify what levels of industrial pollution were manageable, and accepting risks to public health so long as the industry is properly monitored.<ref> Andy Rowell, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5791-uk-fracking-task-force-calls-for-improved-safety-standards UK Fracking Task Force calls for improved safety standards], ''Spinwatch'', 16 July 2015, accessed 21 September 2016.</ref>
+Published 15 July 2015, the task force's second report called for greater safety and transparency measures on fracking; 'full disclosure' of all chemicals; and independent monitoring of the fracking process. It argued 'local communities have a right to know what chemicals will be used in industrial activity near to where they live and be reassured that they are being used in safe quantities.' <ref>[https://darkroom.taskforceonshalegas.uk/original/e4d05cb29b0269c2a394685dad7516e6:c48ffe7884e9b668b8d4b7799a027874/task-force-on-shale-gas-assessing-the-impact-of-shale-gas-on-the-local-environment-and-health.pdf Task Force on Shale Gas Second Interim Report], ''Task Force on Shale Gas'', accessed 6 October 2016.</ref> Environmental campaigners criticised the report for failing to specify what levels of industrial pollution were manageable, and accepting risks to public health so long as the industry is properly monitored.<ref> Andy Rowell, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5791-uk-fracking-task-force-calls-for-improved-safety-standards UK Fracking Task Force calls for improved safety standards], ''Spinwatch'', 16 July 2015, accessed 21 September 2016.</ref>
 ===3. 'Assessing the Impact of Shale Gas on Climate Change'===

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 *[[The Weir Group]] <ref name="funding"/>
 *[[GDF SUEZ E&P UK]] Ltd<ref name="funding"/>
 ==People==
@@ Line 42: / Line 57: @@
 ==Lobbying firms==
 *[[Edelman]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Edelman Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 29 January 2015 </ref> manages the Task Force's Secretariat.
 ==Affiliations==
-*[[Edelman]] PR and lobbying firm acts as the task force secretariat
+*[[Edelman]]
 ==Contact==