FMQs: FM urged to stand against climate wrecking Rosebank oil field
As global leaders and scientists prepare for the COP climate conference, Scottish Green Co-leader Ross Greer has called on First Minister (FM) John Swinney to end his equivocation and finally take a position on the Rosebank oil field.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Ross urged the FM to pick a side and maintain the opposition of his predecessors to the climate wrecking Rosebank proposals which would produce 250 million new tonnes of carbon emissions.
In his first question to the First Minister, Ross said:
“Fossil fuel giant Equinor has submitted a new application to drill for more oil in the North Sea.
“But this time, they’ve had to admit that the proposed Rosebank oil field will be 50 times more polluting than what they first claimed. 250 million new tonnes of carbon emissions. Accelerating climate breakdown and destroying our hopes of keeping our planet safe.
“The First Minister’s predecessors were crystal-clear in their opposition to Rosebank.
Nicola Sturgeon agreed that it would be “the greatest act of environmental vandalism in [her] lifetime.” Humza Yousaf said that approving the field was “the wrong decision.”
“But John Swinney has so far avoided taking a position. And he has quietly ditched the Scottish Government’s energy strategy whose first draft opposed new oil and gas exploration.
“The science is clear. If we are to have any hope of changing course and preventing total climate breakdown, there can be no new oil and gas fields.
“Does the First Minister agree with Nicola Sturgeon that it would be “the greatest act of environmental vandalism in our lifetimes? Will he oppose the Rosebank oil field?”
In his answer the First Minister failed to provide a clear answer.
In his second question, Ross said:
“I asked the First Minister a yes or no question but I didn’t get an answer to it.
“Both of his predecessors were capable of giving a clear answer to that question. He says that it's a question of climate compatibility, but Equinor has just admitted Rosebank would be 250 million tonnes of new carbon emissions. That is clearly incompatible with any chance of meeting our climate ambitions.
“However the First Minister spins it, approving Rosebank would be a disaster for people and planet.
“It will do nothing to reduce energy bills. All it will do is funnel more money into the pockets of Equinor’s super-rich shareholders.
“And every single penny these mega-polluters - and Governments - sink into new oil and gas projects takes us even further away from the investment in renewables that we really need.
“The two most recent former First Ministers were brave enough to say this. But today, the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn demanded the UK Government hand these planet-wrecking corporations a huge tax cut.
“The First Minister needs to pick a side. So I ask him again, will he oppose the Rosebank oil field?”