Obscene Shell profits while workers left stranded is unacceptable
The Scottish Greens have criticised the international fossil fuel company Shell for continuing to profit from war and climate chaos, while households struggle to make ends meet.
Oil giant Shell has boasted about their recent profits doubling, exceeding their expectations amidst conflict and climate chaos, with the company reporting that it made an adjusted profit of £8.1bn in the last quarter, beating analyst expectations for a predicted rise to £7.75bn.
The company's profits will be sickening to many people who will have to choose between heating their homes or feeding themselves throughout the winter ahead.
After the UK Government’s approval of Jackdaw last week, and a looming decision on Rosebank still to come, Shell will be celebrating their future profits too, while ordinary people are left worrying about the climate-wrecking impact of the continued reliance on oil and gas.
Scottish Greens energy spokesperson Kristopher Leask MSP said:
“While polluting companies like Shell extract extreme profits for their shareholders, ordinary people’s bills continue to rise beyond manageable.
“Meanwhile, politicians and lobbyists are pushing to scrap the energy profit levy - how can anyone say that oil & gas companies making such huge profits should be paying less tax for the privilege?
“The climate crisis is happening to us now. Wildfires have torn through the Highlands this summer, forcing communities out of their homes and destroying natural habitats for wildlife. Storm after storm has hit in recent weeks before we’ve even reached winter, offering very little reprieve for households to recover.
“These obscene profits are a slap in the face to workers whose jobs and futures have not been adequately planned for. Our changing energy economy demands that both the UK and Scottish governments genuinely support a worker led transition to a clean energy economy. Instead, both Labour and the SNP have buried their heads in the sand.
“An energy system that allows this kind of profiteering when so many are suffering cannot be justified. The time has come to end our reliance on oil and gas and transition to renewables, which can create well-paid, secure jobs and achieve lower household energy bills.
“Scottish workers cannot be the political pawns for these companies and politicians. Dangling a pitiful number of time limited jobs in front of them will do nothing to offer a secure future for the industry in Orkney, Shetland, and the North East of Scotland.
“Oil & Gas companies have more money than they can spend. It is time for them to properly invest in renewables and sustainable industries and fuel a green revolution. We need to seize the moment and create tens of thousands of well-paid, secure jobs that will last long after the oil and gas dries up.”