NEWS that the Church of England has given a cautious endorsement of fracking in the UK has been met with disappointment by a local campaign group.

Frack Free Ryedale (FFR) say the church’s recently announced stance on shale gas extraction is “short-termism," after it concluded the industry could help cut UK carbon emissions by helping it switch to a low carbon economy, on the basis it was cleaner than coal.

In a briefing paper on hydraulic fracturing, the church says this was dependent on fracking not delaying or harming the expansion of renewable energy in the country.

The report was put together by the Church of England’s public affairs body and its Environment Working Group, set up to provide a public voice for environmental responsibility.

It said its investment bodies were seeking out low-carbon investments following the Lambeth Declaration 2015, which recognised the urgent need for action on climate change and need to transition to a low carbon economy. The report stated shale gas "may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions" as part of this transition.

It said this policy was grounded in Biblical and theological reflections on mankind’s responsibility for the earth.

In 2013, the Church of England began registering ancient mineral rights beneath thousands of homes and farms. Lawyers representing residents believed at the time the Church Commissioners’ mineral rights claims could allow it to profit from fracking. But today a spokesman for the church said mineral right were being registered as a result of the Land Registry Act, which had given land owners a deadline to register all their mineral rights before October 2013 or risk losing them.

Peter Allen, a member of FFR said: "Having read the report from the Church of England I am appalled.

"It appears that the church has just taken the conclusions of the climate change committee without fully investigating the facts. They have a naïve faith in the industry regulators, which as we know is totally without foundation.

"They are backing the wrong horse in their desperate desire to appease the government. Recent media reports showing that investment in renewables is now forging ahead, for example in China with $360 billion earmarked for the next four years, must make uncomfortable reading for them.

"Their belief that this is a bridge between coal and renewables is also unsustainable when the industry has publicly stated that it aims to have as much gas available in 2035 as they are planning for in 2020.”

News of the church's stance was welcomed by Ken Cronin, chief executive of the industry representative body UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG)

He said: “We commend the committee for the care it took to review all available research and opinions.

“We agree that that shale gas can be a useful component in transitioning to a low carbon economy and that there is a robust planning and regulatory regime.

“The UK industry is committed to ensuring safe and environmentally sensitive operations and the industry is equally committed to consulting and working with local communities it will operate in including providing significant community benefits.”

Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said the Church of England was “mistaken”.

“Opening up a new fossil fuel industry will not help us move to a low carbon economy, and regulation cannot make fracking safe,” he said.

“The idea that fracking could be a transition fuel is now widely discredited. It would take the best part of a decade to set up a new fossil fuel industry in the UK and we are due to have phased out coal before then - meaning that fracking could take the place of renewable energy and slow down our low carbon transition.

“The committee on climate change have said that fracking risks being incompatible with the UK’s legally binding climate targets. We know the only way to stop climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground and develop renewable energy as fast as possible.”