Inspenet, August 1, 2023.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the granting of hundreds of new oil and gas licenses in the UK, despite mounting warnings about the danger of global warming.
He also confirmed that North East Scotland and the Humber have been selected as locations for two new carbon capture and storage projects, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions in the region.
The government stressed that this would encourage “clean and prosperous industry” in the North Sea, with the potential to create up to 50,000 jobs.
The Government and the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) jointly announced their commitment to conduct future licensing rounds, subject to a climate compatibility assessment.
Likewise, Sunak stated that the new drilling rounds were “absolutely the right thing to do” and necessary.
“Even when we reach net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will still come from oil and gas and domestic gas production has around a quarter of the carbon footprint of imported gas,” he told BBC Radio. Scotland.
“So not only is it better for our energy security not to depend on foreign dictators for that energy, it’s not only good for jobs, particularly Scottish jobs, it’s actually better for the environment because there’s no point in importing half the stuff.” around the world with two or three times the carbon footprint of the things we have at home, that doesn’t make any sense.”
divided opinions
Such a decision has generated outrage among environmentalists, some parliamentarians and a growing number of citizens concerned about climate change, especially in view of the forest fires and high temperatures affecting southern Europe and America, which has intensified fears about the dangers to the planet.
Baroness Jenny Jones of the Green Party said: “This incompetent government has made many foolish and short-term decisions, but this is the worst of all.”
“At a time when the majority of the population accepts that climate change is happening and that we have to do something about it as a nation, they are moving in the completely wrong direction.”
Conservative MP Chris Skidmore, who previously served as the government’s “net zero czar”, has expressed his disagreement with the plan, arguing that it does not align with the expectations of modern voters. He urged an emergency debate in the House of Commons once he returns from recess in September.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was warned last month by Britain’s climate change watchdog of the importance of not delaying action until after the general election so the country can maintain its global leadership in the fight against climate change. climate.
Chris Stark, chief executive of Britain’s Committee on Climate Change, noted that the country has lagged behind other nations in the fight against global warming, partly due to internal conflicts within the Conservative government.
A few weeks ago, Lord Zac Goldsmith, who was previously the Richmond Park MP and international environment minister, tendered his resignation, criticizing the prime minister for his apparent lack of focus on ecological issues.
In his resignation letter, the former editor of the Ecologist magazine and one of the leading members of the Conservative Party with experience in environmental issues, said: “The problem is not that the government is hostile to the environment, but that you , like our Prime Minister, simply shows no interest in it.”
Reasons that justify the granting of oil and gas licenses
The prime minister justified on Monday that granting new licenses for oil and gas drilling in the North Sea would help the UK achieve net zero carbon emissions.
In an interview on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: “Even when we reach net zero by 2050, we will still need a quarter of our energy needs from oil and gas.”
He assured that the use of domestic oil and gas would be more beneficial for the environment than relying on imports.
The NSTA, tasked with regulating the oil, gas and carbon storage industries, is currently conducting the 33rd round of offshore oil and gas licensing.
The first of the new licenses are expected to be issued in the fall, and it is anticipated that more than 100 licenses will be issued in total.
The government stressed that future licenses are essential to ensure energy security options, promote carbon use and storage, and open opportunities for hydrogen production. The goal is to build fully integrated offshore power centers that take full advantage of already established infrastructure.
In addition, the ministers highlighted a new analysis presented by the NSTA that shows that the carbon footprint associated with domestic gas production is about a quarter of the carbon footprint of imported liquefied natural gas.
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