Dear Friends,
The Iran war and the resulting spike in global fossil fuel prices make it clear that not only do we need to accelerate the transition away from oil and gas for environmental reasons, but for economic and security reasons as well.
Sadly, some UK politicians are using this latest energy crisis to make the case for doubling-down on polluting North Sea oil and gas even though research shows the North Sea basin is in long-term decline, and issuing new licences would only make a small difference.
In fact, newly released Carbon Brief analysis shows UK gas production in the North Sea will drop 99% by 2050 compared to 2025 levels, and that issuing new licences would only impact this figure slightly (leading to a 97% drop). North Sea oil production is also in long-term decline.
Proponents of volatile, planet-heating fossil fuels often use inaccurate information to make their arguments, or, in some cases, may even have financial interests in fossil fuels – two reasons we recently sent an open letter from 100+ Christian leaders to the part-owner of GB News.
As Christians, we long to live in a world where polluting, conflict-prone fossil fuels are of little value because nothing we use requires oil, gas or coal, and our electricity grid is powered by renewables. But we also recognise that we must create this world by calling out climate misinformation, by calling on politicians to stop new oil and gas, and by collectively investing in climate solutions, as we are now encouraging the UK Church to do and which we will continue to do via via our Green Investment Roadshow planned for later this year – a multi-city tour we hope you will financially support as part of Big Give Week in April.
