According to Alok Sharma, the current oil and gas legislation being passed in the House of Commons will not reduce household energy expenses or generate employment opportunities. Instead, it will go against the UK’s commitment to gradually eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
The bill for licensing offshore petroleum, proposed by the government, was approved in its second round of voting on Monday evening with 293 votes in favor and 211 against. None of the Conservative MPs voted against it, and Sharma, the former business secretary and president of the Cop26 climate talks, chose not to vote. The legislation would require the North Sea Transition Authority to conduct yearly evaluations for new offshore oil and gas licenses.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, consisting of a large group of researchers, has declared that in order to keep global warming below 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, no additional licenses for oil and gas should be issued. Exceeding this limit would lead to a climate disaster and negatively impact the well-being of millions. During last year’s Cop28 conference in Dubai, UK officials pledged to gradually eliminate the use of oil and gas.
Sharma expressed his disappointment with the actions of Minister Graham Stuart, who attended the conference on behalf of the UK. He stated that despite Stuart’s tweet advocating for a complete elimination of fossil fuels to achieve our climate objectives, the current bill being presented in the house contradicts this goal by seeking to increase oil and gas production licenses. Sharma does not believe that this bill will further the commitment to shift away from fossil fuels, and it saddens him to make this statement.
He stated that the proposed bill would not decrease energy costs or generate employment, despite assertions made by the energy secretary, Claire Coutinho. Sharma clarified, “The purpose of this bill is to enhance domestic energy security. However, it should be noted that private companies own the oil and gas extracted from the North Sea and the government has no control over who they sell it to. Therefore, it cannot guarantee lower energy bills.” He also acknowledged that despite hundreds of new drilling licenses being issued, the oil and gas industry has still lost 200,000 jobs in the past ten years.
He stated that abilities in the oil and gas sector could easily be applied to renewable energy and suggested that the government should prioritize increasing wind, solar, and nuclear power.
Ed Miliband noted that several Conservative members, including former net zero advisor Chris Skidmore, who stepped down as an MP due to the government’s proposals, former Prime Minister Theresa May, and Sharma, have all expressed criticism towards the bill.
The opposition’s representative for energy criticized the proposed legislation as “environmental destruction”, stating in Parliament: “Our nation is confronted with significant obstacles, but what is evident today is not the magnitude of these issues, but the inadequacy of their proposed solution.” He dismissed the bill as “laughable” and argued that it would have no impact on the country’s energy stability.
According to Coutinho, the proposed legislation will enhance energy stability in both the UK and Europe. She also emphasized that we cannot rely on simply switching off oil and gas, as we currently live in a world where these resources are essential. Coutinho acknowledged the UK’s fortune in having access to the North Sea and its reserves of fossil fuels.
Several Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs) shared their worries about the bill. Vicky Ford, the MP representing Chelmsford, stated: “There is a growing belief among other countries that by issuing these licenses, the UK may be reneging on our commitments to addressing climate change.”
Nevertheless, she and her colleague Jerome Mayhew, who are both members of the Conservative Environment Network, stated that they will support the bill. However, in the future, they plan to vote for amendments that would require the UK’s oil and gas industry to operate with lower carbon emissions.
There was speculation that Theresa May might go against the bill, as she reportedly disagreed with it. As the prime minister who initially passed the net zero law, this was unexpected. However, since she was not present in Parliament, she chose to abstain from voting.
Skidmore implored his fellow lawmakers to reject the proposed bill. In his resignation letter, he stated that history will not look kindly upon any MP who supports the use of new fossil fuels. He also argued that the current legislation lacks economic viability, will not improve energy security, and goes against the UK’s global pledges for climate action.
According to Ami McCarthy, a political activist from Greenpeace UK, although the government may have succeeded in passing this vote, it has ultimately resulted in a loss for the planet and all its inhabitants. No one stands to gain from this illogical bill that is causing harm to the environment, except for the oil and gas industry and those who hold shares in it.
Alasdair Johnstone, representing the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, stated: “The North Sea is facing an irreversible decline, and this diversion only takes away from real solutions for achieving energy self-sufficiency in the UK. These solutions involve decreasing our dependence on gas, which can be accomplished through expanding renewable energy sources and improving insulation in cold and damp homes. The government’s performance in these areas has been questionable.”
Source: theguardian.com
