A final regulatory approval decision regarding the Jackdaw gas field and Rosebank oil field is anticipated in the coming weeks. The decision will be made by Energy and Net Zero Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.
Climate scientists, including Profs Myles Allen, Jo House, and Pete Smith, have co-signed an open letter to the energy secretary this week. They argue that any decision to further license oil and gas development would hinder UK climate leadership.
The scientists state that if government approval is granted, strong and legally-binding conditions must be in place. They suggest that any licences issued should include storage obligations, making companies extracting fuel legally responsible for carbon dioxide clean-up. This, they argue, is necessary for carbon storage to develop in time to meet carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act 2008.