Response to decision by the North Sea Transition Authority to licence development of the Rosebank field in the North Sea

Commenting on the decision by the North Sea Transition Authority to licence development of the Rosebank field in the North Sea, Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said:
“This is a disappointing decision, particularly on top of last week’s announcement by the Prime Minister that he is weakening key climate change policies.
“The UK Government has ignored the conclusions and advice of experts, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UK Climate Change Committee, that the development of further fossil fuel infrastructure would be incompatible with efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius degrees. It is further confirmation that the UK has rapidly become an international laggard, rather than a leader, on climate change.
“The development of Rosebank will make very little difference to the UK’s energy security or the prices consumers pay for heating and electricity. The development of clean domestic energy, such as onshore and offshore wind, and the electrification of the UK economy offers the only pathway to sustainable, secure and affordable energy.”