Legal battle over government’s new oil and gas licences begins in High Court
Today (Tuesday) Greenpeace and Uplift are in the High Court for the hearing of a Judicial Review challenging the UK government’s reckless decision to greenlight a new oil and gas licensing round, which could see up to 130 licences to explore for new oil and gas handed out.
The case comes as parts of the world are gripped by deadly heatwaves with parts of Italy reaching record breaking temperatures, wildfires rip through Greece, and India suffers extreme flooding. Greenpeace campaigners highlight that these conditions are directly caused by carbon emissions generated by the fossil fuel industry, yet the government has approved mass expansion of oil and gas in the North Sea, against expert warnings.
The government’s climate reputation is already in tatters following the dishing out of tax breaks to fossil fuel firms, reneging on a pledge to ban coal, blocking onshore wind and failing on home insulation. The Climate Change Committee’s recent scathing report highlighted worryingly slow progress, continued delay, and a lack of urgency from ministers, declaring that the UK can no longer call itself a climate world leader. They also added that expansion of fossil fuel production is not in line with net zero commitments. And to make matters worse Sunak is poised to approve Rosebank in the coming weeks, the biggest undeveloped oil field in the North Sea, so vast that it would blow past the UK’s climate targets for oil and gas production.
Uplift and Greenpeace are challenging the government on the basis that it has failed to properly assess the climate impact of this new oil and gas licensing round, and failed to properly consider reasonable alternatives. None of the government’s tests look at emissions created from burning fossil fuels, despite the fact that this will amount to more than 80% of the total emissions generated from the new licences, nor did the government explain how this licensing round could possibly be compatible with the UK’s climate objectives.
New oil and gas will do nothing to reduce energy bills or increase our energy security, as the oil and gas belongs to the companies extracting it who will sell it at the prevailing price on the international market. Campaigners say that only prioritising renewables, upgrading the grid, and stopping energy waste from our homes can achieve better security of supply.
Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, said:
“We’re in the High Court today to hold the government to account on their reckless decision to approve new oil and gas without properly checking the damage it will do to the climate. It’s a scandal that the government is attempting to ignore over 80% of emissions generated by new fossil fuel developments in their decision making process, and in fact it’s unlawful.
“As parts of the world are gripped by deadly heatwaves and wildfires fuelled by the climate crisis, the government is gladly waving through further climate destruction just to satiate the appetite of oil giants. And for what? The experts are clear, we won’t need new oil and gas. And more drilling in the North Sea will do nothing to help bring down bills or boost energy security.
“What we need is a clean, affordable energy system fit for the 21st century with an upgraded grid, home insulation and cheap, clean renewable power. This is the only way we can tackle the scandal of the cost of living, guarantee our energy security, and keep a safe climate.”
Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift and a climate lawyer, said:
“How can this government even think about pressing ahead with new drilling when we can all now see what the burning of fossil fuels is doing to our climate? It’s difficult to imagine today’s extreme heat around the world getting worse, but it will if we don’t get off oil and gas.
“The grounds for challenging these new licenses is clear, but we shouldn’t have to take the government to court. There is no public benefit from new licensing: most of the UK’s gas is gone and the majority of the oil that’s left will be exported.
“This government’s pandering to the oil and gas lobby is holding back the massive expansion in cheaper renewables that we need to ensure the UK has a secure supply of affordable energy that doesn’t mess with our climate.”
This year also brought further stark warnings on fossil fuels from the IPCC and UN Secretary General, which yet again restated that there must be no new fossil fuel development if the world is to limit warming to 1.5C, outlining that current approved projects are already enough to take us beyond that point.
There is wide agreement among climate experts and observers that there should be no new oil and gas exploration or development, as globally, currently developed projects can produce enough fossil fuels as we transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Former Tory Net Zero Tsar, Chris Skidmore, has called for Rosebank to be halted, and former COP President and Tory MP, Alok Sharma, has also spoken out against Rosebank, highlighting that it won’t help bring down energy bills.
