‘Indefensible’ for UK Ministers to approve new oil with new climate rules

Environmental campaigners have said it would be ‘indefensible’ for Ministers to approve new oil fields such as Rosebank as new rules will force them to consider the full climate impact of a development.  


Previously, a project’s developers only had to account for the climate pollution from extracting the oil whilst ignoring the far greater emissions from burning the oil produced – known as downstream emissions. 
 


Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns Caroline Rance commented, 

“These new rules must force Ministers to finally take into account the full climate pollution from burning oil and gas extracted from the North Sea. It would be indefensible for Ministers to know the climate harm and yet approve new oil fields.  

“Climate science has long been clear that new fossil fuels will create more of the extreme weather, crop failures and devastation that people are already suffering from flooding Valencia to fires in Los Angeles.

“The greedy oil giants who are shamelessly demanding new fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw must now begin to admit the true scale of climate harm these projects will definitively cause.

“For too long politicians have allowed the public to be fleeced by oil companies who make record profits from global instability. The move to renewables must mean a more affordable energy system that is run in the public interest.” 
   


“This is an opportunity for the UK government to demonstrate it is serious about delivering on a just transition for workers and an end to new drilling. There must be investments in permanent, local jobs created in publicly owned wind manufacturing, funding for upgrading our ports, and dedicated training support for offshore oil and gas workers.” 
 
Comments on recent £200mill public handout to the Acorn carbon capture project, Rance added

 
“The Acorn project is a fossil fuel polluters pipe dream and will never live up to the hype.” 

“It is disgraceful that the Chancellor is choosing to prop up a fossil fuel industry that is ripping us off. Carbon capture lobbyists have convinced politicians to back this greenwashing scam and ignore the 50 years of failure by this technology. “

“Carbon capture has received billions in funding around the world and it has never worked properly. Politicians should be backing climate solutions that can improve people’s lives such as upgrading public transport, ensuring people live in warm homes and creating green jobs for the long term.”