Nick Mace, environmental manager at Cuadrilla, said: “Establishing a shale gas industry here in the UK is absolutely compatible with and indeed critical for reducing global carbon emissions and supporting the country’s energy needs as we move towards creating more renewable energy.

“At the moment, renewables simply cannot create anywhere near enough energy to meet UK demand and shale gas has a vital part to play in providing a domestic gas supply with a lower carbon footprint than importing it from across the world in ships.

“It is important to look again at exactly how hydraulic fracturing works, understand the facts as opposed to the myths and welcome the opportunity to establish a domestic gas supply which can be part of progress on climate change as well as boosting our economy, create jobs and revenue for the UK.”