This is a very significant step. The UK Government has paused the approval of new fields for oil and gas drilling while examining the regulatory framework to transition the North Sea to a clean energy future. The public is being consulted on the amendments to the regulatory regime, which will determine the government’s approach to billions of barrels of oil and gas in the North Sea and address the catastrophic climate impacts they would have.
The Need for Regulation
- Scottish Greens are seeking an immediate acceleration of climate ambition, as our economy, national security, and environment are all at serious risk from the climate crisis.
- We know that delays to a just transition to renewable energy, and investment in new oil and gas fields locks us even further into an expensive, climate-wrecking energy system.
- We need to ensure that the UK Government takes the decisive leap of moving away from fossil fuels.
New rules must cover all oil and gas fields which have licences but where drilling has not started yet, including Rosebank and Cambo. We can use the consultation process to end all new oil and gas drilling for good. Over the next 12 months, we can hope that the UK Government listens to the public and commits to ending new oil and gas production.
A Just Transition
- We can make it impossible to ignore that people want climate action and affordable clean energy now.
- We need to revoke undeveloped licences and instigate a review of current permits to assess whether existing facilities should be phased out early through a just transition.
- We require workers in the oil and gas industry to have a coherent and fully funded plan to help them transition to other work.
- We need a dedicated training fund that enables workers to transition to renewables and investment into offshore wind manufacturing and infrastructure upgrades to create good green jobs.
- We can support safe decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure with strict environmental regulations to minimise pollution risks.
This needs to happen now as the just transition has been delayed and undermined by the fossil fuel companies who do not want change. We also need to show that there is huge support for a complete ban on new drilling of oil and gas along with a serious plan for workers who will be affected by the transition to clean energy.
Expanding Renewable Energy
We must expand our use of renewables. We need to put measures in place to harness clean, climate-friendly energy sources in the North Sea. Through renewable energy generation, we can create a globally significant industry, creating well-paid employment, and support a just and prosperous economy.
“You can help make sure that the government sticks to its commitments to tackling the climate crisis, and stands on the side of people over the interests of oil and gas.” – Scottish Greens
| Renewable Energy Generation | Employment Opportunities |
| Wind Power | 50,000 jobs |
| Solar Power | 45,000 jobs |
This needs to be done now, as the UK’s climate ambition is being undermined by the continued investment in oil and gas.
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