Fracking in the UK is running into trouble with standards for how big an earthquake it is permitted to cause.

Naturally, the frackers respond by saying, "Relax the standards." I expect the Tories will do that sooner or later, since the planet roasters are one of their principal sponsors.

The vital reasons to ban fracking are the danger of contaminating water supplies and, above all, the contribution to global heating. All extreme fossil fuels need to be protected from extraction, and most of the rest: in all, 80% of known reserves must be left in the ground.