Environmentalists threaten to sue as North Sea gasfield gets greenlit
Environmentalists have reportedly threatened to take legal action in an attempt to stop the UK government from approving the construction of a new gasfield in the North Sea.
Climate activists were outraged when the British government revealed that the Jackdaw field, which is to be built by UK-based oil giant Shell, had received the final regulatory approval.
Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, stated that Jackdaw gasfield, initially licensed in 1970, has gained its final regulatory authorization. While the government is ramping up renewables and nuclear power, it is also bring realistic about the country’s current energy needs. To ensure energy security, it is imperative to extract the much needed gas from British seas.
Climate activists, on the other hand, claim that the decision, made on the night of the long bank holiday weekend, went against scientific proof put forth by scientists that the world’s nations needed to reduce carbon emissions rapidly to prevent the worst consequences of climate change.
As per recent scientific research, over half of current fossil fuel production plants must be closed sooner rather than later if global warming is to be kept below 1.5°C, the globally accepted target for preventing a climate catastrophe.
This goes far beyond International Energy Agency’s 2021 call to halt all new gas, oil, as well as coal projects, a statement considered bold at the time.
Shell acknowledged the decision on Jackdaw and stated that the field would be developed at a time when ensuring the UK’s energy security is crucial.
The oil giant stated that responsibly developed, local production of gas plays a vital role in the UK’s transition to net zero, facilitating numerous employment opportunities, and forming a part of Shell UK’s relatively broad intent to invest £20 billion to £25 billion in the UK, with 75% earmarked for low- as well as zero-carbon products and services.
Stop Jackdaw activists had announced that they would hold a protest outside the government offices in London and Edinburgh to urge that the government to rescind its decision.
Source credit: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/02/jackdaw-uk-new-gas-field-shell-north-sea-climate
