The Government and fracking companies have launched a joint charm offensive in a bid to win “a social licence” to operate from a general public that is widely opposed to shale gas development.

'The Independent' revealed that energy giant EDF quietly shut one of the station’s two reactors for several months last year due to concerns over its flood defences

The Chancellor announced a £7bn package to cut energy bills for British manufacturers and households in an attempt to help business compete better overseas and to take the pressure off struggling consumers.

The Japanese owner of the CD and DVD e-commerce website Play.com has been identified as the world’s biggest online retailer of elephant ivory and whale meat.

An internal report by operator EDF found that the shingle bank sea defences at the site in Kent were 'not as robust as previously thought'

Leaked draft report from UN panel seen by The Independent is most comprehensive investigation into impact of climate change ever undertaken - and it's not good news

More than 300 'information markers' were placed on vehicles involved in protest and recorded on the Police National Computer

Oil giant Shell is set to cut spending on US oil and gas production by a fifth this year and split its “downstream” operations in the country into separate businesses.

The threat posed to wildlife by fracking is laid bare today as a new report identifies vast swathes of environmentally sensitive land across Britain that could be excavated for shale oil and gas.

The case for the controversial badger cull has been undermined by new figures which reveal a significant decline in the number cattle infected by bovine tuberculosis last year.