Helpfully Tim Leunig accepts as a premise that more North Sea drilling won’t make oil nor gas more affordable in the UK.
But his arguments about tax and the strategic benefit of allowing more North Sea licensing are flawed in key ways (as well as in ways that James has pointed out). Long 🧵 below:
APPG member Olivia Blake MP urged the government to continue leadership shown at the COP30 negotiations when championing a road map for fossil fuel phase out by ruling out extraction at Rosebank.
Over 120 MPs back open letter calling on Kemi Badenoch to rethink her 'reckless' pledge to repeal the Climate Change Act. www.businessgreen.com/news/4519900...
100+ MPs and peers - including Labour, Lib Dem, Green and SNP - uniting to back the UK's world-leading Climate Change Act 👏
A clear sign of the broad consensus across parliament that climate action is not just an environmental and moral imperative but good for the economy.
Nick Robinson on Today this AM was completely wrong to suggest that pumping more oil & gas from the North Sea would lower bills, something even former Tory Energy Secretaries have accepted.
We’ve burned most of the gas and export the vast majority of the oil—and oil is basically what’s left…
"A hard-headed assessment of the impact on bills, jobs, the industry & the climate all lead to the same conclusion: allowing drilling for fossil fuels at Rosebank would be the wrong decision"
- Climate APPG supporter @chrismurraymp.bsky.social 👏
www.lbc.co.uk/article/foss...
EXCL: The UK Treasury is poised to lose out on £258m in tax receipts from the proposed Rosebank oil development if the North Sea plans get the green light, new analysis has revealed.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Lots of claims flying around this week (eg Nigel Farage who thinks we can be "self-sufficient" in gas) that the UK can drill its way to energy security. Here's why that's a fantasy, as I explained to Reform's Richard Tice on LBC earlier:
Another day, another set of claims from the oil & gas industry lobby that don't withstand scrutiny and put O&G executives interests above the public's:
🧵
www.thenational.scot/news/2503389...
The scale of the political misjudgment that the Tories have made will become clear in the coming months, but what's clear today is that it completely at odds with responsible political leadership to give up on ambitious action to address climate change.
🧵
What does @thecccuk.bsky.social say about fossil fuel phase out?
🛢️North Sea oil & gas is mature + declining.
📉Global demand for oil & gas is expected to decline substantially.
✍️A proactive plan is needed to manage the transition.
⬇️Net imports of oil & gas are projected to fall by 77%.
“Continuing to support investment in oil and gas is not a credible clean growth strategy and would fail to convince investors to put their money in the UK."
Esin Serin in our article listing 5 reasons why going ahead with Rosebank and Jackdaw is bad for the economy.
www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminst...
"In the face of the current wave of environmental backlash and net zero scaremongering, rejecting Rosebank is a golden opportunity for the UK to draw a line in the sand against the myths and misinformation" writes @carolinelucas.bsky.social in our latest blog.
Read it now👉
Yesterday an urgent question was granted on the Rosebank & Jackdaw oil fields.
Members of the Climate APPG contributed to this debate, showing that developing these new fields is not in the public interest, won’t protect workers, deliver energy security, or meet climate goals.
UK PM Keir Starmer faces growing internal backlash over potential approval of Rosebank oilfield
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Today our Chair @lukemurphy.bsky.social has written to
@thetimes.com calling for a rethink of coverage that links fossil fuels and growth. ✍️
This follows last week’s announcement as the Rosebank oilfield was ruled unlawful and its approval was overturned.
www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...
Good to see opposition to Rosebank growing, in addition to the broad group that already sees through the arguments of profiteering oil & gas giants (more on that ⬇️).
But the arguments against this field are about so much more than carbon emissions:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
🧵
Norway is making it harder for the UK to transition to a clean future.
And at the same time it doesn't make sense for Norway to double down and support Equinor in starting up oil projects like Rosebank.
But we won the Rosebank lawsuit today, a big step in the right direction.
Plenty more to say about why approving new oil & gas fields isn't the right tactic for a thriving, prosperous future for the UK, but even on the government's own "growth for growth's sake" approach, it doesn't make sense to double down on O&G:
Rosebank has been ruled unlawful and the oil field’s approval has been overturned. 🎉🎉
The government will have the chance to remake the decision after their oil & gas consultation concludes in spring 2025.
HUGE NEWS 👇👇👇
BREAKING 🚨: WE WON OUR CASE AGAINST ROSEBANK.
The court has ruled the oil field UNLAWFUL and Rosebank’s approval has been overturned.
This is a monumental victory in the fight for a liveable future for all.
Environmental campaigners opposed to the Rosebank oilfield have won a massive victory in court after a judge ruled development unlawful because emissions from the oil weren’t factored into earlier approval. I spoke to Sky News on the ruling which makes development dependent on UK government support.
Rosebank and Jackdaw oilfields decision ruled unlawful by Scottish court
- Court says UK government go-ahead does not take into account carbon emissions
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Huge win for the climate! The Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields are ruled unlawful and consent quashed.
Amazing victory for @stopcambo.bsky.social and @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social and so pleased that my win on Horse Hill contributed to this.
www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk/2025/01/rose...
Wealth of US ‘oil-garchs’ went up 15% in nine months as industry figures plan Trump inauguration party
- Oil and gas firms have given more than $75m to Trump’s campaign and stand to benefit from his ‘drill, baby drill’ plan
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Friday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
Tonight we heard again from many different organisations including the new CEO @thecccuk.bsky.social that tackling the Climate and Nature crisis must completely go together.
People care about this and we shouldn’t be afraid to shout for action. @environmentappg.bsky.social
“Scotland’s industrial transition is already underway — the challenge is to ensure it delivers for energy workers, businesses and impacted communities.”
Co-director Miriam Brett is quoted on research from Uplift showing business leaders back an end to new North Sea licensing @tessakhan.bsky.social
