Greenpeace Challenges UK Government's Approval of New Oil and Gas Projects
Charlie Kronick of Greenpeace stated that granting approval for new oil and gas projects would be inconsistent with the UK's national and international targets to reduce carbon emissions.
"There is no way that we can meet those targets by approving new oil and gas," he argued.
Oil firms maintain that there will still be domestic demand for fossil fuels, whether produced in UK waters or not, contending that importing gas would lead to higher emissions.
The UK government has been reviewing how to calculate downstream emissions, with a consultation on the matter having been due to conclude in the spring.
In a statement, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirmed that the consultation was now complete and stated it would respond "as soon as possible...to provide stability for industry, support investment, protect jobs and deliver economic growth."
"Our priority," the statement continued, "is to deliver a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs."
A spokesperson for Shell mentioned that swift government action was necessary to grant fresh approval for the Jackdaw project, adding: "Today's ruling rightly allows work to progress on this nationally-important energy project while new consents are sought."
Equinor expressed its support for the ruling and committed to working closely with the government to move the project forward.
"Rosebank is critical for the UK's economic growth," a spokesperson highlighted, noting that it is investing £2.2bn in the project, and that a pause would have resulted in job losses and a reduction in tax income for the Treasury.
