Leading UK climate scientists warn against new North Sea drilling

{"text":[[{"start":10.29,"text":"More than 65 leading UK scientists have warned against new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, urging the government instead to prioritise renewable energy as a more cost-effective response to the energy crisis."}],[{"start":25.99,"text":"The intervention comes amid mounting political pressure to reverse the current ban on new exploration licences as the Middle East war has driven up oil and gas prices. The opposition Conservative Party and Reform UK have both called for increased domestic production, arguing it would bolster energy security, support jobs and lower bills."}],[{"start":49.79,"text":"In an open letter, however, the scientists challenged both the environmental and economic case for further drilling. “As climate scientists, we urge leaders to look to the cheaper solutions we have already, that we know work,” they wrote. "}],[{"start":65.72,"text":"Signatories include Bill McGuire, professor emeritus at University College London and Richard Allan of the University of Reading."}],[{"start":75.65,"text":"The scientists’ letter argues that about 90 per cent of North Sea reserves have already been extracted and additional production would have little effect on global prices, given the scale of international oil and gas markets. "}],[{"start":91.25,"text":"Instead, further drilling would also add to greenhouse gas emissions and undermine efforts to limit global warming. The last three years have been the hottest on record."}],[{"start":102.8,"text":"McGuire told the FT that additional North Sea output would not materially improve UK energy security. “More drilling means adding carbon to the atmosphere that wouldn’t otherwise be added. And this is the last thing we need at a time when the rate of global heating has doubled.”"}],[{"start":121.19,"text":"Ella Gilbert, the climate scientist and campaigner who co-ordinated the letter, said renewables already offered a cheaper alternative. Wind and solar were now the lowest-cost sources of electricity, she argued, while falling battery storage costs were making intermittency, when renewable sources were offline, easier to manage."}],[{"start":144.01999999999998,"text":"“It’s totally nonsensical to be extracting more dangerous fossil fuels in response to this energy crisis,” Gilbert argued. “In the long run, North Sea oil and gas will push prices up for ordinary people.”"}],[{"start":158.95999999999998,"text":"The current Labour government has not stopped existing drilling in the North Sea and will allow “tiebacks” to existing fields, but has said it will no longer issue exploration licences for new fields. "}],[{"start":173.14,"text":"Critics argue the UK sources some 75 per cent of its total energy from oil and gas and will continue to use fossil fuels for decades even under the most optimistic timelines of a shift to greener sources of power."}],[{"start":188.57999999999998,"text":"They also have claimed that North Sea output has significantly lower emissions than imported gas. However, the independent Climate Change Committee has found only a small emissions advantage when UK production is compared to the global average, and this would be offset by increased production adding to fossil fuel use and higher emissions."}],[{"start":212.71999999999997,"text":"Critics also note that renewable energy is not uniformly cheap. "}],[{"start":218.85999999999996,"text":"In the latest offshore wind subsidy auction, developers were guaranteed £90.91 per megawatt hour, compared to current spot prices of around £96. Wind and solar energy supplies would also need to be backed up with gas or battery storage, and extra electricity grid systems provided."}],[{"start":240.19999999999996,"text":"Gilbert countered that countries which had accelerated their transition away from fossil fuels had fared better. Nations such as Spain, she said, were enjoying lower power prices and greater resilience to energy shocks."}],[{"start":256.23999999999995,"text":"The debate has sharpened across the political spectrum. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, has pledged to scrap the licensing ban, arguing it is essential to “get Britain drilling again”. "}],[{"start":270.0799999999999,"text":"The Liberal Democrats oppose new drilling, saying it would neither reduce bills nor improve security, since prices are set globally and much UK oil is exported internationally."}],[{"start":284.1099999999999,"text":"Business leaders are similarly divided. "}],[{"start":288.5499999999999,"text":"Greg Jackson, chief executive of Octopus Energy, has backed continued extraction, while James Alexander of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association warned that expanding drilling would be a “knee-jerk reaction” to a worsening long-term, systemic issue."}],[{"start":306.3399999999999,"text":"Policymakers would be better focusing on creating the conditions for green energy to attract more investment, rather than prolonging reliance on fossil fuels, he added."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":327.7399999999999,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1775207576_2077.mp3"}