Against climate, United Kingdom authorizes oil and gas exploration in a new sector: “eco-vandalism”, deputy says | Energy and Science

The United Kingdom government has authorized the development of a project that defies already made decarbonisation promises: the largest untapped oil field in Scottish North Sea waters, near the Shetland Islands archipelago. British.

Norway’s Equinar and Britain’s Ithaca Energy are responsible for the project, called Rosebank. But the decision to approve it was heavily criticized by environmentalists and MPs against the Conservative government, such as Green Party MP Caroline Lucas. [que já vi] in my life”.

The Rosebank field could produce 69,000 barrels of oil per day, or about 8% of the UK’s daily production between 2026 and 2030. According to Equinor, it can produce 44 million cubic feet of gas every day.

According to Carbon Brief, burning these fossil fuels emits the same annual emissions as about 90 of the world’s lowest-emitting countries.

For this reason, activists have called on the UK government to halt development of the plan, arguing that it is at odds with the UK’s plan for a net zero economy.

Tessa Khan, a climate advocate and managing director of the campaign group Uplift, who helped co-ordinate the Stop Rosebank campaign, said legal action could be taken against the government. “There is strong reason to believe that the manner in which this government has taken this decision is illegal. In that case, we will meet in court,” he said.

Justification of Approval: “Energy Conservation”

pointed out by EuronewsThe current Conservative government in power in the UK has cited energy security as its priority for pushing ahead with oilfield development, facing criticism from across the political spectrum.

“We will continue to support the UK oil and gas sector to underpin our energy security, grow our economy and transition to cheaper, cleaner energy,” Energy Security Minister Claire Coutinho said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that the UK needs new fossil fuels for energy security and that oil and gas will remain in the British energy matrix even in 2050.

The North Sea Change Authority, the government body that authorized the oil exploration, said it had taken Rosebank’s emissions into account in relation to the UK’s climate plan. Even if the plan is approved, the government says it is committed to achieving net zero by 2050.