The Scottish Government has released a public consultation over whether to allow unconventional extraction of gas and oil, including fracking to take place in Scotland.
The consultation runs until the end of May and based on the results, the Scottish Government plans to make a recommendation that will go before MSPs for a vote towards the end of the year.
Several studies have shown, that Scotland's geology, in particular a stretch of land through Scotland's central belt - Midland Valley - could contain significant quantities of shale gas and oil as well as coal bed methane. However, the location of the central bed is also one of Scotland's most populated regions, supporting industries and businesses, prompting the consultation to note that the future of fracking in the area is "both complex and controversial".
The consultation website states, that this issue "lead to a widespread debate on potential environmental, health and economic impacts, and on compatibility with Scotland's ambitious climate change targets".
To support this consultation a panel of independent scientific experts and a series of research projects developed a report to support this consultation.
Elsewhere in the UK, fracking has been given a controversial go-ahead in Lancashire and North Yorkshire after court battles.
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