UK Climate Minister: Fracking And Offering 100 New North Sea Oil Leases Good For The Environment

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. He might have a small point, domestic production is probably a bit 'less bad' ... BUT

Producing [oil and gas] domestically creates only half the emissions around production and transportation than importing it from around the world

I doubt you're saving that much in emissions here %-wise versus the amount of CO2 that will result from burning it. It's mostly carried on ships and/or pipelines, both of which are reasonably efficient.

They have developed new technologies to minimise flaring and now you are seeing companies like BP and Shell exporting that to other parts of the world.

They can develop tech like this using existing fields, you don't HAVE to give them a bunch more leases for this kind of stuff to happen.