Energy Minister must hold oil companies to account for job losses

Environmental campaigners have urged the Scottish Government to hold the oil and gas industry to account over the treatment of its workforce and to use its existing Just Transition Commission as the vehicle for discussing the energy transition.

The first meeting of the Strategic Leadership Group on Oil and Gas and Energy Transition, chaired by Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse, will take place later today (7/5/20) after agreeing in April to take a “task force approach” to COVID-19 as well as “economic recovery and the energy transition.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland Just Transition Campaigner Ryan Morrsion commented,

“Following the oil price crash and the onset of the coronavirus restrictions, the oil and gas industry has immediate questions to answer after laying off thousands of workers with no support. The Minister must hold industry representatives to account for their disregard for the workforce and their communities at this time of extreme vulnerability across the UK.

‘With the Scottish Government’s new Economic Recovery Advisory Group and the existing Just Transition Commission already in place, there is no merit in giving this group dominated by fossil fuel company representatives such a prominent role in discussing the energy transition when we know they will attempt only to prolong oil and gas drilling in the North Sea regardless of what is best for workers, communities and climate.

“The Scottish Government’s Just Transition Commission brings together a far broader range of voices including environmentalists, trade unions and those aiming to tackle fuel poverty. Now is the time to commit to giving this body a critically important long term role, immediately bringing economic recovery and planning for energy transition into its workplan.

“The current energy system is failing to deliver for people or planet, and government support for the industry must be rooted in delivering a Just Transition. This means protecting the workforce, transitioning away from fossil fuels and transforming the energy sector to address wider social issues. It is critical that the Scottish Government hears from the diversity of workers and communities likely to be affected, not just industry representatives who have a vested interest in drilling every last drop from the North Sea.”

The UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) – the independent adviser to the UK Government and Scottish Governments – yesterday warned about investing recovery funds in industries that locked in fossil fuel use and increased risk of further disruption from climate breakdown.
ENDS