The controversial Rosebank oil field could be killed off in Scotland’s Court of Session later this year with legal challenges officially given the go-ahead.
Judicial reviews against the former Tory government’s move to approve the massive oil field off Shetland are being brought by eco groups Greenpeace and Uplift. Greenpeace is also fighting Shell’s Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen.
A hearing for the cases will be held on November 12 after grounds for the legal challenges were accepted by the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Greenpeace argues that for both Rosebank and Jackdaw the impact of emissions caused from burning the oil and gas extracted from those fields was unlawfully ignored.
Campaigners received a major boost last month when Labour Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband withdrew support for the North Sea schemes and said the UK Government wouldn’t defend them in court. It came after a ruling from the Supreme Court in June said emissions from the two sites had to be taken into account.
Keir Starmer’s government previously vowed not to grant new oil and gas licences – although did pledge to honour existing licences. The fossil fuels industry has claimed Labour’s approach will decimate tens of thousands of jobs in the North Sea workforce, predominantly in the north-east of Scotland.
It’s thought Rosebank, which would be run by Norwegian state-owned oil giant Equinor, could contain up to 500million barrels of oil. Activists claim it would emit more carbon than the world’s 28 poorest nations combined.
Greenpeace said it will argue in court that burning the oil and gas whilst ignoring its harmful effects is both illegal and unsafe in the middle of a climate crisis. In the case of Rosebank, they will also claim the development would damage marine life in a protected area of the North Sea.
Mel Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate team leader, said: “It’s welcome news that we have permission on all of our legal grounds to challenge Rosebank and Jackdaw in two months’ time. We will continue to fight the corporate greed of fossil fuel companies like Equinor, Shell and Ithaca, and we look forward to our day in court.
“Both the government and the Supreme Court agree that you cannot ignore the emissions generated from burning fossil fuels. Equinor, Shell and Ithaca know this, and they know that the consents for these fields are unlawful.
“But despite this they are continuing to develop them during this judicial review, putting people, marine life, and our climate at further risk. Rosebank and Jackdaw will do nothing to help our energy security or bring down our bills, the oil and gas extracted will be sold on the international market, making these companies, their bosses and shareholders even richer.
“If it went ahead, the Rosebank oil field could release as much carbon as 56 coal plants running for a year, costing UK taxpayers billions in subsidies, while lining the pockets of its big oil owners. And the Jackdaw field will produce more CO2 than the annual emissions of Ghana.
“The oil companies are trying to hide this from the public and the government. That’s why we’re taking the fight to the oil companies in the Scottish courts in November.”
Tessa Khan, climate lawyer and boss of Uplift, said: “The stakes in this case should not be underestimated. Experts have long warned that there can be no new oil and gas developments if we’re to have a hope of staying within safe climate limits.
“With every passing month, the evidence against a huge project like Rosebank mounts up, whether that’s months of flooded fields damaging UK food production, or extreme temperatures and lethal flooding across Europe.”
Both Equinor and Shell have vowed to fight on to save the North Sea projects which they’ve described as “vital” for Britain’s energy security. Equinor has said Rosebank will bring investment and jobs – while Shell insists Jackdaw could provide fuel for 1.4million UK homes.
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