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Reaction to the announcement by Siccar Point Energy that they have “paused” the Cambo development, following Shell’s withdrawal last week.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Head of Campaigns Mary Church commented:

“This is another nail in the coffin for the Cambo oil field. Climate science is very clear that fossil fuels are driving the crisis and new projects anywhere in the world are a threat to people everywhere. 

“The UK Government must officially reject the Cambo proposal once and for all and end licensing for all new oil and gas projects if it wants to play its part in limiting dangerous climate warming.  

“Planning for a rapid and just transition to renewable energy cannot wait any longer or continue to be left to the whims of fossil fuel companies and the market. 

“People who work in this industry and live in these communities know best what they need from the transition away from fossil fuels and they must be driving this process. Both the UK and Scottish Governments must urgently sit down with impacted workers and communities and ensure that they are at the heart of planning the transition away from fossil fuels to decent green jobs.  

“We know that up to 3 decent green jobs can be created for every oil and gas job, but this won’t happen without government intervention and redirecting fossil fuel subsidies to support the transition.” 

Cambo oil field development off Shetland to be paused: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59608521 

Free to use photos: Stop Cambo message delivered to UK Government COP26 hub https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX67WdE 

In May 2021 the International Energy Agency said that there can be no new fossil fuel projects anywhere if the world is to stay within the agreed 1.5C limit for warming https://foe.scot/press-release/no-new-oil-gas-to-meet-climate-commitments-says-iea-report/ 

There are 30 more offshore oil and gas projects that have either already applied to the UK Government for permission to drill, or are expected to do so in the next 3 years. These include the large Rosebank field, just 25 miles north of Cambo, which developers Equinor and Siccar Point Energy again will be trying to push through next year. https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/40-uk-coal-oil-and-gas-projects-seeking-approval-2025

Given the right policies, clean industries could create more than three jobs for every North Sea oil job at risk, which can enable an “equivalent job guarantee” for every oil worker. https://foe.scot/press-release/scottish-support-uk-oil-gas-drilling-incompatible-climate-emergency/ 

Friends of the Earth Scotland is:

* Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation

* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland

* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 73 national member groups, and 5,000 local activist groups.

www.foe.scot