The following article is an update from our friends at the Stop Rosebank campaign. Operation Noah is an official supporter of the campaign, which is working to stop not only the proposed Rosebank oil development, but all new oil and gas in the UK.

At the end of January, in a huge win for climate campaigners, the Scottish Court of Session ruled that the approval of the Rosebank oil field was unlawful. This momentous ruling was made on the basis that the massive climate pollution that would result from burning the oil and gas extracted from the field was not taken into account when the original approval decision was made. 

Burning Rosebank’s reserves would produce more than the combined annual CO2 emissions of all 28 lowest-income countries in the world, including Uganda, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. At a time when people are feeling the impacts of climate change more than ever, Rosebank would bust UK climate targets and push more parts of our world to becoming uninhabitable. Not only would Rosebank be a disaster for the climate, it also won’t lower bills or improve energy security since it is mainly oil for export.

This welcome decision by the courts to overturn Rosebank’s approval has since sparked much speculation around the field’s future and whether the project could still go ahead. So what are the next steps for Rosebank? And, most importantly, what can we do to ensure Rosebank’s oil stays in the ground? 

What’s next for Rosebank?
In order to seek re-approval for Rosebank, the field’s owners, Equinor, must reapply to the UK government. But this time they must account for the emissions that will be produced from burning its reserves. The Energy Secretary would then need to approve or refuse consent. 

The Government has currently paused approving new fields while it consults on new guidance for assessing combustion (scope 3) emissions for offshore oil and gas projects. The outcome of this consultation is expected in the Spring, and until then, the Government will not approve any new fields, including Rosebank. 

This marks a crucial opportunity for the fight against Rosebank. We are on the brink of stopping this field for good. If we create enough pressure, and show the UK Government just how unpopular Rosebank is with the public, we could see – not only an end to Rosebank – but an end to all new oil and gas drilling in the UK. 

To that end, the climate movement is coming together for a No New Oil and Gas MP and MSP Week of Action on 3-9 March. We need to make sure that every MP and MSP hears from their constituents that for a safe climate and affordable energy, we must stop new oil and gas now.

Don’t worry if you haven’t met with your MP or MSP before, Stop Rosebank has a variety of resources to help make meeting your MP/MSP easy and straightforward, including a step by step guide. You can use this tool to send an MP invite email or an MSP invite email, asking them to meet with you on the week of 3-9 March.

Since MPs and MSPs have busy schedules, it’s best to book a meeting as soon as possible. However, if you don’t get a response from your request to meet, you can always follow up politely, call their office, or attend a public event or constituency surgery (or take digital action with #StopRosebank on the week).

Find out more about the Week of Action and what it involves here.