{"id":1992,"date":"2025-07-24T15:54:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T15:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jpit.uk\/?p=24582"},"modified":"2025-07-24T15:54:41","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T15:54:41","slug":"why-we-handed-in-a-letter-to-the-government-asking-them-to-stop-rosebank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/standrewsurcrustington.org.uk\/?p=1992","title":{"rendered":"Why we handed in a letter to the Government asking them to Stop Rosebank\u2026\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On Wednesday the 23rd<\/sup> July we handed in a letter at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to ask Sir Keir Starmer to stop the Rosebank oil field. This is the same day the International Court of Justice<\/a> made a historic announcement that governments have a binding legal duty to protect our climate by limiting carbon emissions. <\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t heard of Rosebank, it is the largest undeveloped oil field in the UK<\/strong>, 80 miles off the Shetland coast. Approving Rosebank would directly contradict the government\u2019s climate and net zero goals. Campaigners estimate that burning Rosebank\u2019s oil and gas would produce more CO2 than the 28 poorest countries<\/a> in a year, a staggering contribution to global warming.  <\/p>\n

This comes at a time when the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat, it\u2019s already here. The UK just experienced the hottest spring on record<\/a> and driest in 50 years, summer in turn has been marked by heatwaves,<\/a> so we don\u2019t need to look abroad to see the impacts.  <\/p>\n

But if we do look globally then we see the truly devastating events. Just this month, 65 people died in a single day due to flooding in Pakistan<\/a> and Iran<\/a> has seen extreme heat of 50 degrees and severe drought. Sadly, these are just a few examples. <\/p>\n

Some will argue that we still need oil and gas during the transition to renewables. However, 90% of Rosebank\u2019s oil<\/a> is expected to be exported, with profits going to Equinor, a Norwegian state-owned company, not to the British public. <\/p>\n

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The Stop Rosebank campaign recently won a major legal victory where the court ruled the government\u2019s approval of Rosebank unlawful<\/a>.  Now, the government is remaking their decision with an oil & gas consultation. The consultation is ongoing right now, that\u2019s why this is the time to act. A final decision for Rosebank is expected in late September. <\/p>\n

I was honoured to be a part of the group handing the letter in. It was one small act in a much larger effort. Back in April over a million people signed a petition delivered to 10 Downing Street calling for an end to new oil and gas projects<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Given this, added to the now well circulated fact that 89% of us globally<\/a> want to see more climate action, it seems clear to me that the government must listen. Let\u2019s hope and pray they do. <\/p>\n

Want to know what you can do? <\/strong><\/p>\n