Abstract
Liz Truss’s government is expected to fast-track permits for new North Sea gas fields to boost fossil fuel extraction on the UK’s continental shelf.
In a recent letter, the Committee on Climate Change (an expert body that advises the UK government) warned the new prime minister that increasing gas production may shore up supplies this winter, but there is not enough gas to ease the high prices set on the global market or cut the UK’s dependence on gas imports.
More importantly, continuing to explore for new oil and gas reserves and expanding drilling conflicts with the UK’s commitments to limit global warming to well below 2°C and reach net zero emissions by 2050. To assuage these concerns, the government recently confirmed the structure of what it calls its climate compatibility checkpoint: a series of tests designed to check if new oil and gas licenses jeopardise emission reduction targets.
In a recent letter, the Committee on Climate Change (an expert body that advises the UK government) warned the new prime minister that increasing gas production may shore up supplies this winter, but there is not enough gas to ease the high prices set on the global market or cut the UK’s dependence on gas imports.
More importantly, continuing to explore for new oil and gas reserves and expanding drilling conflicts with the UK’s commitments to limit global warming to well below 2°C and reach net zero emissions by 2050. To assuage these concerns, the government recently confirmed the structure of what it calls its climate compatibility checkpoint: a series of tests designed to check if new oil and gas licenses jeopardise emission reduction targets.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Specialist publication | The Conversation |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Oct 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Tavis Potts receives funding from UKRI, and a portfolio of charity, civil society and government funding sources.Daria Shapovalova works with and has received research funding from AHRC, British Academy, and a number of civil society organisations.
