Rosebank field, which lies north-west of Shetland in the UK, contains up to 350 million barrels of oil. It is the country's largest untapped oil field. The UK government has given the green light for Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor to develop Rosebank amid increasing scrutiny regarding the country's claims of being on track with its net-zero targets.
According to #StopRosebank and other environmental campaigners, burning Rosebank's fossil fuels would equal the combined annual emissions of all 28 low-income countries worldwide, including Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
This decision also comes a day after the International Energy Agency reiterated the need for a complete transformation of the global energy system by 2050 - from dependence on fossil fuels to clean, resilient renewables like wind and solar.
According to the latest report by IEA in 2021, climate pledges by governments to date – even if fully achieved – would still fall well short of what is required to bring global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to net zero by 2050 and give the world an even chance of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C.
So now, imagine the UK government giving the go-ahead for the Rosebank project when it should reduce fossil fuel consumption instead.
Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Philip Evans told the Independent, "Rishi Sunak has proven once and for all that he puts the profits of oil companies above everyday people."
Previously, Prime Minster Rishi Sunak had defended the reasons to slow down efforts to combat climate change. He felt it would put the British public through the "unacceptable cost" of net-zero commitments. His home secretary, Suella Braverman, also told the BBC that the Conservative government was "not going to save the planet by bankrupting British people."
However, the Rosebank development is in no way going to aid the people. The UK government will give £3.75 billion in tax breaks to Rosebank's owners to develop the field - meaning the UK public will be carrying 91% of the costs during times of severe cost of living crisis.
A study even estimated the cost of living crisis to cause thousands of premature deaths in the UK amidst poorer households spending larger proportions of their income only on energy with inflation rates.
Rosebank would not lower UK energy bills either or boost the country's energy security because 80% of the fossil fuels will be exported, and only some would be sold back to the UK at market price, according to Greenpeace UK.
"Amidst a summer of raging wildfires and the hottest July on record, this Government approves the biggest undeveloped oil and gas field in the North Sea," Green Party MP Caroline Lucas told the Independent.
"This Government must be held accountable for its complicity in this climate crime."
What can we do now?
Equinor is already being resisted around the world, so let us pressure the UK government together through various means, whether you are based in the UK or not because the collective action will help delay and hopefully gradually stop this field.
Sign petitions by #StopRosebank and Greenpeace UK and pledge to take action to stop Rosebank
Spread the news on your social media. Ask your friends and family to share with their contacts as well.
Attend rallies and protests against fossil fuels closest to where you are based or host and start a rally at your locality. Find your nearest #StopRosebank rally here.
Email and contact your MP to take a stance if you live in the UK.
Tweet and comment about fossil fuel field under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s social media posts.
Let’s stand in solidarity to fight for our common future on this planet.