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  • In 2014, the UK imported 45% of its gas.
  • The Government plans to boost UK natural gas production to prevent or minimise falls in gas-related jobs, tax and investment.
  • To stay within globally agreed climate change limits some existing gas reserves will likely need to go unused. This raises questions about new UK gas exploration.
  • Burning natural gas produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than burning coal or oil. Switching to gas can help to meet short-term emission targets for power generation, heating and transport.
  • However, installing too many new gas-using units may create barriers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the long term.
  • Most long-term gas use depends on the use of carbon capture and storage or biogas.

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