UK world’s worst for letting fossil fuel companies drill in nature reserves

A new investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reveals that the UK is the world's worst offender for allowing fossil fuel companies to operate in over 7,000 protected areas, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Sumatran rainforest. The total global area of overlap is bigger than the size of France, with the UK issuing production licenses that overlap with 13,500km² of protected areas. The activity breaches national and international agreements, but enforcement is weak. The investigation highlights the environmental threat posed by oil and gas companies, including oil spills and pollution, and calls for stronger environmental protections.