Activists bring ‘Stop Cambo’ message to UK Government COP26 hub

Friends of the Earth and Stop Cambo activists brought a Stop Cambo message to the UK Government’s COP26 hub today.

Activists painted a dozen empty oil barrels with a large ‘Stop Cambo’ message and unfurled banners across from the Glasgow Science Centre where the UK Government is stationed for COP26.

The climate campaigners’ messages were calling for an end to all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea, starting with the proposed Cambo oil field, and a proper plan of support for oil and gas workers and their communities to speed the transition to renewables.

There is huge public opposition to Cambo – over 90,000 people have signed a letter to Boris Johson urging him to reject the project. Scientists, campaigners and other politicians have spoken out against this deeply controversial oil field that would keep us locked into fossil fuels for decades to come.

Caroline Rance of Friends of the Earth Scotland said:
“The UK Government must listen to the science and the public uproar and reject the Cambo oil field and all new fossil fuel projects. Urgent action on climate means no more coal, oil and gas.

As a rich nation that built its wealth from fossil fuels, the UK Government must end this toxic relationship that is driving the climate crisis and impacting the worst on vulnerable people who have done the least to cause this problem. “

The Cambo development is a huge, new oil field off the west of Shetland. Shell and private-equity backed Siccar Point Energy, have applied to the UK government for permission to extract 170 million barrels of oil in the first phase alone, which would generate emissions equivalent to the annual carbon pollution from 18 coal-fired power stations.

Rachel Kennerley, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth England, Wales &, Northern Ireland:

“Cambo is the tip of the iceberg, there are 30 offshore developments clearly threatening any chance of staying within that all important 1.5 degree limit if they go ahead.

“From Whitehaven Coal mine and Horse Hill oil field in Surrey to the billion dollars of funding for a gas mega project in Mozambique the UK government’s relationship with coal, oil and gas  is pushing more people into danger from climate breakdown. And it must stop.”

This week at COP26 UN Elder Mary Robinson and UK High Level Climate Action Champion Nigel Topping both spoke out against the Cambo oil field. COP26 President Alok Sharma has been repeatedly challenged on Cambo with people walking out of meetings in protests at the proposal.
ENDS