LONDON, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A Scottish environmental group said the government should put more emphasis on renewable resources despite potential trends for shale natural gas.
The British Geological Survey announced it would start surveying the shale natural gas potential between Edinburgh and Glasgow next year.
Michael Stephenson, director of science and technology at BGS, told an economic affairs committee work would begin once a study in southern England is finished in March.
"There are parts of Britain where there is no point in doing it because there is simply no shale," he was quoted by the BBC as saying Wednesday. "There are other areas where it is worth a look."
The International Energy Agency in a recent report suggested some natural resources should be left alone for the sake of the climate. Lang Banks, director of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Scotland, said it would be wise to heed that advice.
"In the interests of tackling climate change and delivering climate justice, irrespective of what the BGS survey reveals, Scottish ministers should be preparing to commit to leaving fossil fuels in the ground," he said.
Scotland has one of the most aggressive renewable energy programs in the world.
