Reference : New Scientist, 15 March 2014, page 6
The USA started it. Fracking. Then shale gas everywhere. The USA has found so much shale gas using fracking that they are replacing coal burning wholesale. To the degree that carbon emissions have dropped back to mid 1990's levels.
Now it is Britains turn. Enough shale gas has now been found that, if exploited, it will supply Britain with all the gas it needs for the next 40 years. And that is one area alone. Not the only area. New gas rich shales have been found in Britain further south. Lots more gas.
Britain will not be the last. It appears that gas reserves globally have been massively underestimated. China is supposed to have more reserves than the USA. It is only a matter of time before they are all exploited. How will this affect the world?