A move by Labour to ban fracking in Scotland has been lauded by environmental campaigners.

The party's environment and climate change spokeswoman Claudia Beamish will announce her Member's Bill calling for a ban outside Holyrood on Friday, and will launch a public consultation on the proposal.

Speaking ahead of the announcement, Ms Beamish said: "This is about Scotland's future, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the condition we leave our planet in for our children and our grandchildren.

"Labour will change the law to ban fracking in Scotland. The climate science and evidence is clear - the last thing we need is another fossil fuel. We need to fulfil Scotland's renewables potential and we can't do that if we allow fracking in our communities.

"Scotland relying on fracking for our energy needs will lock us into an energy infrastructure based on fossil fuels long after our country needs to have moved to clean energy.

"SNP ministers now face an urgent choice - they can work with Labour to ban fracking, or they can work with the Tories to allow drilling under family homes in parts of central Scotland."

The Scottish Government announced a moratorium on unconventional oil and gas extraction in January 2015, which remains in place as ministers consider the evidence.

Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive of chemicals giant Ineos which has fracking exploration licences for Scotland, claims shale gas extraction could transform communities blighted by a collapse in manufacturing - but Friends of the Earth Scotland (FotE) and other campaigners against the practice say fracking will cause long-term environmental damage.

FotE Scotland head of campaigns Mary Church said: "This is a very important step in the fight against fracking.

"The grounds for banning unconventional oil and gas are absolutely crystal clear in the context of the climate crisis we are facing and the threat that fracking presents to public health.

"While the current moratorium has halted the immediate threat of fracking, ultimately a ban is necessary.

"It's useful that Labour has kicked off a process that starts the thinking on how we actually ban fracking. We urge MSPs and parties to get behind this Bill and work together to protect the environment and end uncertainty for communities."

Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Greens' climate and energy spokesman, said: "Greens have stood with communities against fracking since this risky and unnecessary technology was first threatened and we led Holyrood's first debate on the issue, in which we were the only party to support a ban.

"Labour's proposal for a Bill to implement a ban will add welcome pressure on the Government, but it's not the only opportunity we have to prevent this dangerous industry taking hold in Scotland.

"The Scottish Government is bringing forward a Climate Bill and I believe that gives us a better chance to rule out fracking and focus instead on safe, sustainable industries."

Labour's announcement is made on the day a global agreement to tackle climate change takes effect.

Scottish environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the ratifying of the Paris Agreement marks a "landmark day in the global fight against climate change".

She said: "This is a significant step forward for collective global effort to tackle climate change and help protect our environment and planet for future generations.

"The Scottish Government will continue to progress our world-leading, low-carbon ambitions which saw us exceed our 2020 emissions reductions target six years early."

She added that she will set out the Government's proposals for its domestic climate change plan to Parliament in January.

GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith said: "Shale gas gives Scotland an opportunity to secure an affordable and indigenous gas supply which could help tackle fuel poverty, reduce bills and create significant employment opportunities.

"An estimated 35% of Scottish households are existing in fuel poverty because the Scottish Government failed to meet its pledge to tackle this scandal.

"Gas is four times cheaper than electricity and over 80% of our homes use gas as their primary or sole heating supply.

"Thousands of jobs across the country are supported by gas and gas exploration - particularly at Grangemouth."

He added: "Scotland needs a balanced energy supply to avoid the future prospect of power cuts, rising bills and frozen homes, but Labour is abandoning pragmatic politics in favour of the politics of protest - it's no wonder their polls continue to point south."