Dear John
Alarming plans to develop a new oil field off the west of the Shetland Islands would have devastating climate impacts – totally backtracking on the UK government’s promises to meet targets outlined in the Paris climate agreement.
Oil exploration company, Siccar Energy – backed by fossil fuel giant Shell – has been seeking approval to start drilling at the oil extraction site for years. Terrifyingly, the first phase of their project alone will extract 150 million barrels of oil – roughly equivalent to operating 16 coal-fired power stations for a year.
The government’s started a consultation to decide if Siccar and Shell’s climate-wrecking plans can go ahead, closing on 10 July. Now’s our chance to speak up. Will you sign an open letter calling on the government to stop the Cambo oil field?
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As we heard in the Climate Change Committee’s recent progress report to parliament [1], unless Boris Johnson’s government actually acts on climate, its promises to decarbonise the economy are simply more hot air.
If the oil field is approved, Shell and Siccar Energy plan to keep drilling until 2050 – the year the UK has pledged to reach net zero. Yet another example of the government saying one thing and doing another.
This November, the world will turn to the UK for the UN climate talks in Glasgow. Saying yes to the Cambo oil field would send a clear message that the government isn’t serious about cutting emissions. And it would massively undermine the UK's climate credibility.
We just can’t afford to be opening up new fossil fuel frontiers – here in the UK, or anywhere. Instead, we need to lead the way with a proper plan to wind down fossil fuels and prioritise a rapid, fair transition, including green jobs. One driven by oil and gas workers, their unions, and affected communities.
So please will you sign our open letter calling on the government to hold true on their promises to meet climate targets and put a stop to the Cambo oil field project?
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Thanks so much for your support.
All the best,
Rachel Kennerley
Climate campaigner
Friends of the Earth
[1] Read the Climate Change Committee's 2021 Progress Report to parliament here.
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