2026 headlines
Keep up to date with 2026’s news with our digest of daily updated headlines about the business, regulation and campaigns around UK fracking, shale, and onshore oil and gas..
Campaigners launch new methane legal action
The campaign group which won a landmark Supreme Court ruling over the climate impact of onshore oil and gas has launched a new legal action over methane emissions from the industry.
Ban on low volume fracking looks unlikely
The government said today there was no evidence of risk from lower volume fracking. This suggests, for the first time, that the government’s proposed ban on fracking will not include lower-volume processes, such as proppant squeeze.
Landowners warned over risks of hosting oil and gas sites
Landowners in North Yorkshire who lease sites to oil and gas companies have been warned they could be responsible for the costs of clean-up and restoration.
Government response to fracking petition “inadequate”
The government failed to respond directly to a parliamentary petition about lower-volume fracking for onshore oil and gas, a group of MPs has said.
Government quizzed on fracking definition
The energy department was questioned in parliament yesterday on the legal definition of fracking.
Official petition to ban all fracking tops 10,000
An official online petition calling for a ban on all forms of fracking has passed an important milestone.
Government to block new onshore oil and gas licences and ban fracking
No new onshore oil and gas licences will be issued in England, the government announced today. The news followed a speech to the Labour conference in which the energy secretary confirmed his commitment to ban fracking.
Burniston gas plan qualifies as fracking – expert legal opinion
A council is being urged to refuse plans that would use a form of fracking to explore for gas at Burniston near the North York Moors National Park.
Parliamentary petition calls for ban on all types of fracking
An official online petition is calling on the government to ban “small-scale fracking” for onshore oil and gas.
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