Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has led a protest outside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, urging the UK government to halt development plans for the Rosebank oil field. Polanski emphasised that the true solutions to energy and environmental challenges lie in investing in green industries and community initiatives, rather than supporting large infrastructure projects that primarily benefit wealthy corporations. According to him, such projects only enrich multi-millionaires and billionaires while failing to address broader community needs.

The Rosebank oil field, situated approximately 80 miles west of Shetland, is the largest untapped oil reserve in the UK, with estimates suggesting it contains up to 300 million barrels of oil. Its development, initially approved by the Conservative government in 2023, has faced significant opposition and legal challenges, including a Supreme Court ruling that mandated the consideration of emissions from fossil fuel burning when granting drilling permissions. This has added complexity to the project’s future, amid rising environmental concerns.

Campaigners across the UK have been vocal in their opposition. Around 20 activists gathered at the parliamentary office in Lerwick, Shetland, calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reject the Rosebank development. This protest was part of a larger, coordinated action nationwide against the project. In London, over 200 climate activists gathered outside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with Polanski addressing the crowd to highlight the pressing need to leave fossil fuels underground and pivot towards renewable energy sources.

Leading figures in the Scottish Green Party have strongly criticised the development. Gillian Mackay, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, condemned the project as "pure climate vandalism" at the party’s conference, emphasising both its environmental impact and the necessity to challenge polluter narratives. Similarly, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Lorna Slater branded the Rosebank development as "immoral and unlawful," underscoring its contradiction with efforts to tackle the climate emergency and advocating for a just transition to renewables.

The project has been granted consent by the North Sea Transition Authority to owners Equinor and Ithaca Energy despite vocal opposition from environmentalists, including international figures like Greta Thunberg. The Rosebank field, now one of the largest untapped oil discoveries in UK waters, is estimated to hold up to 350 million barrels of oil, according to some estimates. This discrepancy in projections highlights ongoing debates about the scale and impact of the site.

While the UK Government’s approval reflects a balancing act between economic interests and energy security, critics argue that proceeding with the Rosebank development undermines commitments to net zero and environmental protection. They call for a redirection of investments into sustainable industries and communities, rejecting what they see as projects that disproportionately benefit the wealthy and exacerbate climate risks.

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Source: Noah Wire Services