Swinney stresses climate ‘obligations’ after decision on North Sea oil fields

Scotland’s First Minister stressed the need to ensure decisions on oil and gas are compatible with “our journey on climate change” as the UK Government confirmed it will not fight a legal challenge brought against plans to open two new developments in the North Sea.

The Westminster Labour Government announced on Thursday it will not challenge a court case brought against the Rosebank field off the coast of Shetland – the UK’s largest untapped oil field, with an estimated up to 300 million barrels of oil – and the Jackdaw field to the east of Aberdeen.

While the licences for the two developments have not been withdrawn, Labour – which has pledged not to issue licences for any new developments – said it will not contest a judicial review brought by environmental campaigners.

The decision comes in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court ruling which requires regulators to consider the impact of burning oil and gas in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects.

UK energy minister Michael Shanks said the Government will “consult at pace on new guidance” based on the ruling “to enable the industry to plan, secure jobs, and invest in our economy”.

First Minister John Swinney said: “The United Kingdom Government has got to take its own decisions when it is faced with legal challenge, it is right for them to do so.

“I think at the heart of this issue is the importance of making any judgments about oil and gas developments based on the compatibility of those developments with our obligations on climate.

“That underpins the approach the Scottish Government has had, that whatever we are doing in relation to oil and gas we have to make sure it is compatible with our journey on climate change. And you can’t avoid those realities.”

His comments were echoed by Scottish Acting Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin, who stressed Holyrood ministers are clear in their support for “a just transition for Scotland’s valued oil and gas sector, which recognises the declining nature of the North Sea basin, and is in line with our climate change commitments”.

Ms Martin said: “Our focus is on securing a vibrant future for the highly skilled workers in oil and gas to play a full part in our energy future.

“We have consistently said that decisions on oil and gas licensing should be made on a case by case basis and include rigorous assessments of both climate compatibility and energy security.

“Offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting decisions are reserved to the UK Government and we will consider today’s announcement, and the Supreme Court’s June judgment, very carefully.”

Scottish Conservative net zero and energy spokesman Douglas Lumsden said however that the “short-sighted decision” by the UK Government would damage the oil and gas sector in Scotland.

Mr Lumsden said: “This craven stance by the Labour Government underlines their contempt for tens of thousands of Scottish oil and gas workers, as well as their desire to kill off as quickly as possible a sector that’s crucial to the nation’s economy and energy security.

“(Prime Minister) Keir Starmer is telling North Sea oil and gas producers loud and clear: ‘You’re on your own’.

“The danger is they opt to walk away now and take their investment – including investment in renewables – elsewhere.

“This short-sighted decision will not just accelerate the demise of the industry and devastate communities across the north east, it will increase our reliance on imported fossil fuels with a greater carbon footprint.”

The Scottish Greens insisted the licences for Rosebank and Jackdaw must be revoked for good, with party co-leader Patrick Harvie arguing that extracting oil and gas from the two sites would be “catastrophic for our climate”.

He said: “This is an important decision by the UK Government, but the fact that this is a response to legal action by campaigners demonstrates yet again the need for a strong Green movement to challenge both the fossil fuel industry and its apologists in government.

“We are in a climate emergency and nothing could be more damaging than offering up even more of our North Sea to oil and gas giants.

“If we are to have a cleaner and greener future, then the UK Government must ensure this is the end of the road for Rosebank and Jackdaw.”