Quakers join call to reject Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields
With Britain enduring its hottest summer on record and many areas facing drought and wildfires, Quakers call on the UK government to reject plans for new North Sea oil and gas fields.
Quakers are among more than 50 organisations who signed an open letter urging UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to refuse consent for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields.
Approving the projects would increase climate-changing emissions while doing little to reduce energy bills or provide long-term energy security, the letter says.
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Big polluters should be paying for the harm they have caused, not being granted permission to drill for more oil and gas
- Rebecca WalkerWoo, climate justice lead
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“Over the past decade, the number of jobs supported by the North Sea oil and gas industry has more than halved, despite new fields being approved," signatories write.
“By contrast, investing in clean, home-grown renewable energy can strengthen energy security while creating secure, long-term jobs that benefit individuals and communities and are not dependent on the volatility of global fossil fuel markets."
The letter, organised by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and signed by Friends of the Earth Scotland and Christian Aid Scotland amongst others, says that the consequences of climate change are already being felt.
“Here in Scotland, the scale of that threat has been brought starkly home this summer by the devastating wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park which required a major and sustained emergency response," signatories write.
Separately, Quakers in Britain responded to the public consultation on Rosebank which closed on Monday, a week after a similar exercise ended for the Jackdaw gas field.
These consultations leave the new Prime Minister with one of the first major tests of his approach to energy and climate policy.
In their submission Quakers challenged claims that the project would lower the cost of living or improve energy security, noting that much of the oil will be exported to the Netherlands and sold on international markets.
Quakers further questioned the economic case for the development, arguing that investment in renewable energy, home insulation and electrified transport would provide greater long-term benefits.
Rebecca WalkerWoo, climate justice lead for Quakers in Britain, said: "Our faith teaches us to care for the Earth and for one another.
“As people experience climate breakdown-induced extreme heat, drought and wildfires, we believe big polluters should be paying for the harm they have caused, not being granted permission to drill for more oil and gas.
“We need to invest instead in the sustainable solutions that can protect people, support communities across the UK and safeguard the planet for future generations."