Photo by Arvind Vallabh on Unsplash
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland has written to the Prime Minister, calling for him to block drilling at Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields in the North Sea as the deadly impacts of climate change ramp up
As well as SCCS, with more than 70 members, almost 50 groups co-signed the letter to Andy Burnham – sent as the public consultations on whether to approve licences to drill the fields closed.
The effects of climate breakdown are all around us – the UK has this year already experienced its hottest May and June days ever and what is expected to be the hottest month of July on record.
There have been at least four heatwaves, with health alerts issued, and numerous devastating wildfires across the nation – including a significant fire in Cairngorms. Thermometers have topped 38C
Nearly three quarters of England is currently suffering drought conditions, with farmers suffering poor harvests and warning of food supply shortages.
Estimates suggest the May and June heatwaves caused around 2,700 extra deaths in England and Wales.
Meanwhile, much of Europe as well as parts of Canada and the US have also been baking in dangerously high heat, with numerous massive wildfires causing several deaths and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee homes and holiday locations.
The past 11 years have been the warmest in the modern era, according to the UN weather agency, while oceans are also continuing to heat up too.
Climate change has been described as the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. Burning coal, oil and gas has been identified as the key driver of global warming. The root of our biggest problems could not be clearer.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, a coalition of 70 organisations with more than one million supporters, organised an open joint letter written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, calling for him to block plans to drill the Jackdaw and Rosebank gas and oil fields in the North Sea.
Signed by nearly 50 organisations from across the country, the letter warns that granting licences for drilling will do nothing to safeguard domestic oil and gas supplies, guarantee declining North Sea jobs or lower household bills, but emissions from burning the oil and gas produced there would further drive climate warming and lead to even more needless fatalities.
Decisions on whether to approve the two fields are looming, with consultations on the plans coming to an end this month.
Fraser Sutherland, coalition manager for SCCS, said: “Opening new fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw will not solve any of our problems but will threaten the UK’s climate goals and contribute to climate catastrophe.
“We are urging the Prime Minister to stick to Labour’s manifesto promise to ban new oil and gas production and double-down on the move to a low-carbon society.
“Investing in clean, home-grown renewable energy can strengthen energy security, create good long-term jobs that benefit individuals and communities and help tackle climate change at the same time.”
Katherine May, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “Communities are already facing famine, floods and fire because of climate change. Approving Rosebank would be reckless, reprehensible and regressive: a bonanza for big oil while leaving ordinary people to pick up the bill.
“The impacts of climate change are staring us in the face. Pretending Rosebank has nothing to do with them would be as daft as it is dangerous.”
The letter states:
“We are urging you to stick to the spirit of Labour’s manifesto commitment and remain opposed to the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields.”
It continues:
“Rosebank and Jackdaw’s combined lifetime carbon emissions could cause up to 65,495 excess heat deaths by 2100, a toll equivalent to the entire population of Inverness.”
On jobs, the signatories say:
“New fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw will not stem the decline of jobs in the North Sea. Over the past decade, the number of jobs supported by the North Sea oil and gas industry has more than halved, despite new fields being approved.
“By contrast, investing in clean, home-grown renewable energy can strengthen energy security while creating secure, long-term jobs that benefit individuals and communities and are not dependent on the volatility of global fossil fuel markets. Currently, the Net Zero sector is worth over £10 Bn to the Scottish Economy, and employment in excess of 100,000 FTE jobs.”
