The Green Party has condemned the government’s drive to “max out” North Sea oil and gas reserves, warning it will fuel further climate destruction and do nothing to help tackle the cost of living crisis. [1]
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:
“Today’s announcement from the Prime Minister appears to be nothing more than a cynical attempt to stoke division at the expense of both the climate and people across the country who are already struggling with rising living costs. Such an announcement, as evidence of climate breakdown is all around us and shortly after the UN Secretary General has said we are in an era of ‘climate boiling’, makes Sunak nothing short of a climate criminal.
“To say we need to burn more fossil fuels from the North Sea in order to meet net zero by 2050 is blatant greenwash.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Energy Agency and the United Nations have all made clear there can be no new fossil fuel projects if there is to be any chance of keeping global temperature rises under 1.5 degrees.
“At the same time, more North Sea oil and gas will do nothing to help reduce people's bills, because it will all have to be sold back to the UK at the international market price.
“The only way to effectively and sustainably reduce people’s bills, tackle the climate crisis and create millions of jobs for the future is to invest in insulating people’s homes, invest in a rapid rollout of electric heat pumps, invest in cheap and accessible public transport, and massively ramp up renewable energy.
“While the Tories are helping their mates in the oil and gas sector, Labour are bottling out of using the power they have to stop this climate crime. Labour could effectively stop this today if they said they would reverse licences when they come into government: this signal would make investment in new oil and gas financially unviable. Starmer has the power to do this today and I urge him to use it.
“The solutions are already there. The government choosing to ignore them and expand oil and gas instead is an expensive and morally reprehensible decision that will make life harder for everyone.”
ENDS
1
https://news.sky.com/story/rishi-sunak-heads-to-scotland-for-net-zero-energy-policy-push-12930459
For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401