Rosebank: drilling would be indefensible
Governments are weakening their response to the climate crisis when they should be stepping up as the latest public consultation on Rosebank closes today, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay has warned.
The Greens have warned that the Scottish Government is refusing to say whether it supports new drilling while Prime Minister Andy Burnham and senior UK Government ministers have left the door open to Rosebank and further North Sea extraction.
Despite Labour’s manifesto acknowledging that new oil and gas fields would not cut bills, deliver energy security or prevent the worsening climate crisis, Burnham has promised a ‘pragmatic’ approach. These comments followed Donald Trump’s claim that the Prime Minister had told him he would “open up” North Sea oil.
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said:
“Giving permission to a climate-wrecking project like Rosebank would be reckless and indefensible.
“All governments have the basic duty to protect our environment. Yet the frightening reality is that as the climate crisis gets worse, the UK and Scottish Government responses are getting weaker.
“Andy Burnham’s first major climate test as Prime Minister was whether he would honour Labour’s manifesto, ruling out new drilling in the North Sea and standing up to climate-denying Donald Trump. He has already failed it.
“He should have honoured his party’s manifesto, and immediately rejected Trump’s demand to open up the North Sea.
“It is more of the same short-term thinking that has failed Scotland’s workers and communities for decades."
Gillian added:
“John Swinney and the Scottish Government are failing this test too. We have seen devastating wildfires, droughts and extreme heat right on our doorsteps, but the Scottish Government cannot answer simple questions about whether it supports new drilling.
“That is a huge step backwards, for Scotland and the SNP. Just a few years ago, with Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership and Greens in Government, we put the climate crisis at the heart of Scotland’s energy policy. Now with the Scottish Greens out of government, Scotland gets a Scottish Government that offers non-answers, delays and calls to cut taxes for oil giants.
“That is the wrong target and the wrong strategy. Scotland should be taxing extreme wealth, and we should be blocking any projects that irreparably harm our environment. Our climate is not something governments can sell to corporations or bargain away.
“While others retreat from their climate commitments, the Scottish Greens unashamedly will not. We will always put people and planet before profit, and we are saying clearly: the UK and Scottish Governments must stop Rosebank.”