Greens to force vote at Holyrood on Rosebank oil development

The Scottish Greens are to force a vote at Holyrood over whether the controversial Rosebank development should be given the green light.

It comes after First Minister John Swinney refused to clearly state his position on the oil field last week, saying only that any development should pass a “climate compatibility” test.

Pressed on the matter by Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer, Mr Swinney said that developments such as Rosebank – the UK’s largest undeveloped oil field – would have to be “compatible with our journey to net zero”.

However, he also stressed there would continue to be a need for oil and gas over the coming years, while the country transitions away from fossil fuels.

While Wednesday’s vote at Holyrood will be symbolic, it marks a chance for MSPs to make their views known ahead of the UK Government making its decision.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s debate, Scottish Green climate spokesperson Patrick Harvie said allowing Rosebank to proceed would be “catastrophic for our climate and our future”.

Former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf both made their opposition to the development clear.

But with Mr Swinney now in charge of the SNP, Mr Harvie claimed the governing party has “hidden behind the idea of a so-called climate compatibility test”.

The Green MSP said: “But this project is clearly incompatible with any test worthy of the name.”

Mr Harvie continued: “There is no safe level of new drilling and no way to produce an extra 250 million tonnes of carbon emissions without doing severe damage to the world around us.

“When Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf took a stand against these climate-wrecking proposals it sent a clear message to the world, yet, as the crisis worsens, this Scottish Government is in retreat.”

His comments come after Equinor, the Norwegian energy firm which owns the majority of the Rosebank development, recently resubmitted plans for its approval.

The field, which is about 80 miles north west of Shetland, is said to contain up to 300 million barrels of oil and some gas.

Development of the field was originally approved in 2023, but the Supreme Court later ruled that the emissions created from burning fossil fuels should be considered when granting permission for new drilling sites.

Equinor, which says it is “fully committed” to working with all relevant bodies to “advance the Rosebank project”, last month submitted a new application.

Mr Harvie said: “Even Equinor’s own analysis shows that what they are proposing is straightforward climate vandalism, and I hope that our Parliament will stand against it.”

He added: “Clean, green renewable energy is the best, safest and cheapest energy available.

“Scotland has a vast renewables potential, with the chance to create tens of thousands of high quality jobs for the future and ending our dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices.”

Speaking last week, Mr Swinney insisted: “The approach that the Scottish Government has taken consistently through the work of my term, the term of Humza Yousaf and also Nicola Sturgeon, was to insist upon the importance of a climate compatibility assessment about any development that comes forward.”

He stressed that meant that “any developments of oil and gas licensing have to be compatible with our journey to net zero”.

Mr Swinney continued: “There will be, for some time, a requirement to utilise fossil fuels as we transition from our current situation to net zero.

“The question that has to be addressed given the requirements of society in that respect is, can any of that activity be compatible with our journey to net zero and that’s the policy position of the Scottish Government.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland oil and gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “It would be indefensible for the Scottish Government to sit on their hands when asked to vote against the controversial Rosebank project given that we know just how much climate damage it will do.

“The First Minister should be taking this opportunity to show climate leadership and come out clearly against new oil from Rosebank and for a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels.”

Meanwhile Becky Kenton-Lake, manager of campaign group Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “Allowing the massive Rosebank field to be developed would be tantamount to a crime against humanity.

“While the decision rests with the UK government, MSPs in Scotland have the opportunity to show they recognise and support the scientific and moral imperative to transition away from fossil fuels.”

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s debate, she added: “Politicians from all parties must remove the blinkers, stop using climate action as a political football and confidently show that they back a fair move to a brighter, low-carbon future.”