First Minister Nicola Sturgeon faces pressure from climate campaigners to address “the elephant in the room” following statement on oil and gas drilling.
The Alliance stands behind Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, who have written an open letter, alongside a coalition of over 60 charities, unions and community groups, to the First Minister asking her to stand strongly and publicly against the proposed Cambo oil field off the coast of Shetland, and to call on the Prime Minister to categorically reject all new oil and gas projects in the face of increasing climate instability.
With yesterday’s announcement that the Scottish Government will no longer support unlimited oil and gas drilling, as well as the building momentum on the eve of COP26 commencing this weekend, the First Minister has an opportune moment to truly take a decisive stand and illustrate the Scottish government’s action against the climate crisis.
Whilst the final decision on Cambo will be taken at UK government level, the Scottish government has a responsibility to remain true to their promises of leading the fight against the climate emergency, and advocate strongly against the continuation of drilling for oil and gas in such an unsustainable and detrimental way. As COP26 begins, leadership must be held to account by organisations and individuals taking action.
On behalf of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Caroline Rance, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland said:
“The First Minister has now acknowledged that unlimited drilling for oil and gas is incompatible with the climate crisis, and has said that the Scottish Government will end their support for drilling every last drop of oil and gas from the North Sea. The reality of the climate crisis is so devastating and the consequences of approving this field are so grave, that the First Minister must now address the elephant in the room and strongly reject Cambo.
“Climate science is clear that there can be no new oil and gas projects. Instead, we need a managed phase-out from the North Sea in line with keeping global temperature rises to 1.5ºC, while scaling up renewables and ensuring a just transition for affected workers and communities.”
On behalf of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland said:
“Climate change is already wreaking havoc around the world and continuing to burn more and more fossil fuels will only result in more deaths, more poverty and more suffering.
“The fact that on the eve of COP26 the Prime Minister is still weighing up whether or not to green light an enormous new oilfield at Cambo is utterly inconceivable, incompatible with the Government’s stated climate ambitions and inconsistent with the need to inspire much faster global climate action.
“Now is the time for the First Minister to send an unequivocal message to the Prime Minister on Cambo: not in our backyard, not on my watch and not in Scotland’s name.”
Header image – Image of Stop Cambo campaigners in Edinburgh (courteousy of Friends of the Earth Scotland)