What is fracking and why is it controversial?

The UK government plans to permanently ban fracking for shale gas in England, amid concerns over its environmental impact and controversy surrounding the practice. Fracking, a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock, involves injecting fluid at high pressure into the rock, potentially causing earth tremors. While some suggest fracking could lower energy bills, opponents argue it distracts from investing in renewable energy sources and has significant environmental costs. Fracking is banned in several EU countries and remains a contentious issue globally.