UK Government ‘denying reality’ with new oil and gas licences

Environmental campaigners have reacted to the UK Government plans to ramp up oil and gas extraction despite its devastating climate impacts.

The Secretary of State for Energy Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed yesterday that the UK Government will support over 100 licences for companies to explore for more fossil fuels in the North Sea, as well as lifting the moratorium on fracking in England.

Climate science and energy experts have repeatedly warned that any new oil and gas projects will push the world well past dangerous climate limits.

Last year, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opposed the controversial Cambo oil field but since then she has failed to speak out against the recently approved Jackdaw field or the Rosebank field which contains nearly 500 million barrels of oil.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Oil and Gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “In ploughing forward with this new licensing round, the UK Government is effectively denying the reality of the climate emergency with scientists and energy experts clear that there can be no new oil and gas.

“The devastating climate impacts people are enduring with floods in Pakistan, typhoons in Japan and heatwaves in the UK are being driven by burning fossil fuels.

“The UK government’s supposed checkpoint is a worthless charade as there can be no climate compatible new oil and gas. It is a deeply cynical attempt to provide cover for reckless plans to expand the very industry that is fuelling both the climate and the cost of living crises.

“With the cost of living skyrocketing due to the volatile prices of oil and gas, it’s obvious that our current system is completely unfit for purpose, serving only to make oil company bosses and shareholders richer while everyone else loses out. We urgently need a transition to an energy system powered by renewables, and a mass rollout of energy efficiency measures to reduce energy demand.

“The Scottish Government must be willing to stand up to these reckless plans to expand fossil fuels and hand out permits for oil and gas companies to explore and drill in the North Sea.

“These plans will lock us into a climate-destroying energy system for decades to come, entrenching reliance on this volatile industry in places like Aberdeen, and leaving people all across Scotland exposed to rocketing energy bills.”

The Scottish Government has confirmed that there will be NO fracking in Scotland.