Climate campaigners call on Swinney to oppose Rosebank oil field

Climate campaigners have called on First Minister John Swinney to speak out against the controversial Rosebank oil field.

Equinor resubmitted their environmental statement after new climate rules forced them to admit just how much pollution would come from burning the oil and gas taken from the field – with their assessment concluding that this would amount to nearly 250 million tonnes of damaging emissions.

Despite former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf opposing the Cambo and Rosebank oil fields respectively, Swinney has so far failed to do the same.

The public have until 20th November to voice their opposition to the controversial project.

Friends of Earth Scotland oil and gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said:

“The writing is on the wall for new oil and gas. It would be indefensible to approve or support this controversial project when we know just how much damage it could do – the thought of 250 million extra tonnes of pollution being released by Rosebank is an astonishing and terrible prospect.

“John Swinney should be using this as an opportunity to show climate leadership and come out swinging against Rosebank. If the SNP are serious on their claims about bringing down energy costs, they should oppose a project that would keep us locked into sky high bills.”

“The UN Conference on climate is due to start in just over a week’s time. The Scottish Government should be showing leadership on the world stage and saying no to a new climate-wrecking oil field.”

“Our energy future must be built on affordable, reliable renewable energy that is run in the public interest. The skills and experience of oil workers must be at the heart of creating a credible and fair transition plan that creates secure green jobs, meets the needs of communities and scales up the industries we can rely on for the long term.”

“Climate breakdown is all around us and we know fossil fuels are causing it. Those arguing for ever more oil are only arguing for more storms like Amy, more fires like we saw in Los Angeles, and more floods like in France.”