Greenpeace is considering a new legal challenge regarding two planned oil and gas fields in the UK, following the government’s indication of support for these projects. This comes after a court previously revoked consent for the developments due to concerns about their climate impact.
The environmental group has alerted the energy department that remarks made by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor may suggest bias in any future decision regarding the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects. Greenpeace asserts that any minister contemplating the applications must remain open to the possibility that these projects might not proceed due to their emissions.
This situation underlines the complex position the government finds itself in, balancing the need to transition away from fossil fuels while still fostering investment in the North Sea. Last year, the Labour Party’s election manifesto stated it would not revoke current oil and gas licenses but would refrain from issuing new ones for exploration.
Rosebank, led by Norway’s Equinor and the UK’s Ithaca Energy, is recognized as the largest undeveloped oil reserve in the UK, estimated to hold about 500 million barrels of oil. The Jackdaw project, developed by Shell, has the potential to account for roughly 6% of the gas output from the North Sea.
While both projects received licenses and initial consent from the UK’s North Sea regulator, Greenpeace and Uplift’s legal actions have led to a ruling from Scotland’s top civil court requiring a review of these consents to account for the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the oil and gas.
This ruling by Lord Ericht followed a significant decision from the UK’s Supreme Court in June 2024, which emphasized the need to consider so-called Scope 3 emissions when granting planning permissions. Developers of Rosebank and Jackdaw will need to reapply for consent to move forward, awaiting new planning guidelines from the government before doing so.
In a recent interview, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, expressed her support for the projects, referencing the government’s manifesto commitment to honor existing licenses. Similarly, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer noted that while he cannot pre-empt any decisions, the government had indicated it wouldn’t interfere with previously granted licenses.
Greenpeace has highlighted concerns regarding the legality of the Chancellor’s statements, suggesting they could indicate a form of unlawful pre-determination by the Secretary of State. The group has requested all correspondence related to these projects from the government since the beginning of the year and has kept its options open regarding any further actions.
Equinor has stated that the Rosebank project is essential for the UK’s economic growth and is coordinating closely with regulatory bodies to advance the initiative. Meanwhile, Shell and the North Sea Transition Authority opted not to comment on the ongoing situation. A government spokesperson emphasized that they cannot provide insights on specific projects and are in the process of developing guidance to support both industry and environmental goals.