Parents Demand Climate Action: Rejecting Rosebank Oil Field Paves Way for Sustainable Future

Strategic Insights -

Climate-conscious parents across the UK have joined forces to warn the government that approving Rosebank, the UK's largest undeveloped oil field, would be a "climate catastrophe" for their children. Last year, the Scottish Court of Session ruled the Conservative government's approval of Rosebank unlawful, finding that it had failed to properly account for the project's downstream climate impacts. With new guidance on how the environmental impacts of oil and gas developments must be included in assessments, Norwegian oil and gas giant Equinor now needs to submit a new Environmental Impact report for Rosebank. Parents for Future is campaigning to ensure the Prime Minister seizes this opportunity to reject Rosebank once and for all.

Key Takeaways:

  • The letter to the Prime Minister was signed by dozens of parents across the UK, including notable campaigners, comedians, writers, actors, musicians, academics, and community leaders, representing a growing movement of over 60,000 parents determined to act for children everywhere.
  • Research shows that 87% of UK children are worried about the climate crisis and 75% fear the increase of wildfires, floods, food shortages, draughts, and poor air quality.
  • Burning the oil and gas in existing fields alone would release three times more carbon than is compatible with limiting global heating to 1.5°C, according to recent research from UCL.
  • Approving Rosebank would signal a commitment to remain in the fossil age, committed to 20th Century technologies and the catastrophic impacts of their continued use.
  • The Scottish Court of Session ruled the Conservative government's approval of Rosebank unlawful last year, finding that it had failed to properly account for the project's downstream climate impacts.
  • The government's decision on whether to allow the Rosebank oil development will be the first test of whether new guidance on environmental impacts has changed the course of oil and gas developments in the UK.

Statistics:

  • 87% of UK children are worried about the climate crisis.
  • 75% of UK children fear the increase of wildfires, floods, food shortages, draughts, and poor air quality.
  • Over 60,000 parents across the UK are part of the Parents for Future movement.
  • The UK's largest undeveloped oil field, Rosebank, would release three times more carbon than is compatible with limiting global heating to 1.5°C if burned.
  • Burning existing oil and gas fields alone would exceed carbon emissions limits.

Sources:

  • Parents For Future UK
  • Scottish Court of Session
  • University College London (UCL)
  • Campaigners, comedians, writers, actors, musicians, academics, and community leaders who signed the letter
  • Norwegian oil and gas giant Equinor
  • New York Climate Week summit