Leading climate scientists who helped create Greater Manchester's carbon neutral by 2038 commitment are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to unequivocally reject new drilling in the North Sea.
In an open letter, scientists including Prof Kevin Anderson from the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester said they were 'with considerable concern' reading reports that Burnham's government intended to approve further development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields. The fields were approved under the Conservatives but put on hold by legal action requiring a more detailed environmental impact assessment.
Backtracking on Climate Commitments
The scientists warned that approving new drilling would send a signal that the UK was backtracking on international climate commitments. They noted that as mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham had unveiled one of the UK's most ambitious local climate programmes.
Labour's manifesto promised no new oil and gas licences would be issued, but Jackdaw and Rosebank were already in the system before the last general election. A consultation on Jackdaw will finish on 8 August.
Scientific Evidence Strengthened
The academics highlighted extreme heat and wildfires across the UK and Europe this summer. They said global emissions must fall by almost 8% every year to meet the upper limit of 2C in the Paris agreement.
Anderson and colleagues urged Burnham to adhere to commitments made when announcing the Greater Manchester carbon neutral by 2038 policy. They undertook the carbon budget analysis underpinning the target championed by Burnham in 2024, when he said Greater Manchester could be 'front and centre of the green industrial revolution'.
'The scientific evidence has only strengthened since those earlier commitments were made,' the letter said. 'Global temperatures have already risen to the lower limit of the Paris Agreement's temperature range (1.5°C).'
Wrong Signal to the World
The letter said approving new drilling 'cannot be reconciled with the UK's repeated commitment to honour its international climate obligations'. Any approval would suggest the UK is prepared to step back from obligations it urged other nations to uphold.
'Future generations will not judge governments by the ingenuity with which they justified expanding fossil fuel production,' the scientists wrote. 'They will judge whether, when faced with unequivocal scientific evidence and clear international commitments, they had the courage and compassion to act.'
