London Mayor Sadiq Khan is pressing UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reaffirm net-zero commitments and reduce reliance on oil and gas, citing extreme weather events. Pressure mounts as a decision on new North Sea drilling is expected soon.
The debate over North Sea oil and gas drilling highlights a critical juncture for the UK's energy policy and climate commitments, with potential implications for economic growth, energy security, and the nation's role in addressing the global climate crisis.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reaffirm the UK's commitment to net-zero emissions and reduce reliance on oil and gas, citing the nation's recent experiences with drought, wildfires, and heatwaves. Khan's call comes as pressure mounts over potential new drilling in the North Sea, a move that has divided opinion within the Labour party and among experts.
Writing in The Guardian, Khan emphasized the need for governments globally to address the climate crisis with renewed focus and funding. He expressed concern that the current administration might support expanded drilling, despite the Labour manifesto's commitment to halt new licenses. Two specific projects, the Jackdaw gasfield and the Rosebank oilfield, were previously granted permission under the Conservatives but faced legal challenges from environmental groups.
Prime Minister Burnham has remained largely quiet on climate and environmental issues since taking office, a contrast to his previous strong stance as Mayor of Greater Manchester. He recently stated a pragmatic approach to oil and gas, suggesting decisions on new drilling would be made "in due course" and questioning the source of the UK's future energy supply. This stance has worried some Labour MPs who fear it could alienate voters experiencing the impacts of climate change.
Conversely, political and industry pressure from the right advocates for new North Sea drilling as a solution to the UK's energy crisis. However, economists like Nicholas Stern argue that such actions would be detrimental to both economic growth and energy security, sending a negative signal globally. Khan warned that the "terrifying scenes" of the summer indicate an "era of extremes" and that without urgent action, the situation could worsen, urging a strong embrace of net zero.