UK Government urged to ‘do the right thing’ and reject Rosebank development

Climate campaigners are urging the UK government to reject the Rosebank oil field development, calling it a defining test of their climate credibility. Uplift, an organization advocating for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, argues that approving this project would contradict the UK's climate commitments. The Rosebank field, located west of Shetland, is the UK's largest untapped oil field, estimated to contain up to 300 million barrels of oil. Equinor, the majority owner of the field, has submitted a scope 3 emissions assessment as required by new guidelines, stating its commitment to advancing the project and highlighting its importance for the UK's energy security and economy. The project was approved by the previous Conservative government in 2023, but this decision was legally challenged following a Supreme Court ruling that emissions from burning fossil fuels must be considered for new drilling sites. Campaigners plan protests outside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, emphasizing that the Rosebank field is inconsistent with climate goals and that the world already has excess oil that is unsafe to burn. They are also calling on the Labour government to invest in clean energy rather than supporting a declining fossil fuel industry. Environm... download the app to read more