UK approval of Jackdaw gasfield in North Sea ignores climate, cost-of-living crisis

350.org slammed the decision of the UK government to approve the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, which will lock in fossil gas production for years. The approval, coming just weeks before the COP31 climate talks, is incompatible with the UK’s climate commitments and ignores the latest warnings from the UN that failure to phase out fossil fuels will lead to a prolonged and more catastrophic 1.5C overshoot. 

350.org refuted the claim made by Prime Minister Burnham that the gasfield, operated by Adura (a joint venture of Equinor and Shell) will “protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter.” Projections show that Jackdaw will only supply just 2% of UK gas needs, equivalent to around two months of national demand. Most of this gas will also be sold on the volatile international markets, and will not lower household bills.

The Jackdaw gasfield will line the pockets of fossil fuel companies already enjoying windfall profits, while ordinary people pay the price. Climate campaigners instead urged the UK government to invest in renewable energy instead, which creates thousands of new jobs while keeping houses warm and energy bills low. 

350.org also warned the UK government against approving the Rosebank oilfield, another project that faces widespread opposition, including from 1 million people, 700 scientists and experts, 200 organisations and celebrities, trade unionists, and MPs from every major political party. 

Lisa Rose, 350.org campaigner said:

“This is absolutely the worst thing the UK government could be doing following a summer of deadly heatwaves and leading up to the UN climate talks next month. When polling shows that more than half of people in the UK want more climate action, the government has shown that it is listening to the oil industry instead of people.

Shell and Equinor are raking in record profits while families struggle to pay their bills. The government should be focusing on lowering bills by introducing a permanent tax on fossil fuel companies and scaling up the transition to homegrown renewable energy that is accessible to all. 

People want warm homes and lower bills. Renewable energy delivers both. To still bet on expensive, volatile fossil gas while Europe erupts in cost-of-living protests is a folly. To waste more public money on oil and gas drilling is to fuel more discontent."

Media Contact:

Ilang-Ilang Quijano, 350.org Media Campaigner, [email protected], +639175810934