THE UK Government will launch its net-zero strategy in Aberdeen next week, signalling plans to extend drilling for oil and gas.
The revamped Conservative proposals will see what was being referred to as “green day” by Whitehall staff rebranded to “energy security day”, with more of a focus on fossil fuels.
According to The Guardian, Thursday could see the Government confirm the licensing for a huge new oilfield named Rosebank off the coast of Shetland, using the argument that it is needed for investment in carbon capture and storage technology.
The proposals will also fail to bring in a 2025 flaring ban for oil and gas firms despite it being one of the 130 recommendations made by Tory MP Chris Skidmore earlier this year.
There will be no office for net zero – also one of Skidmore’s calls – and no compulsion for solar panels on new housing. Plans for a UK-wide programme of home insultation improvements, campaigned for by groups like Insulate Britain, will not be included.
It is also reported that there will be major roles for carbon capture and hydrogen, which campaigners fear could boost fossil fuel firms.
Meanwhile some green measures are expected to be included, such as expanding onshore wind in England and plans to produce green hydrogen.
Tom Burke, of the E3G climate change think tank, was disappointed by the shift towards fossil fuels on the supposed “green day”.
He said: “This is Fawlty Towers politics – don’t mention the environment! It’s a sop to the right wing. It’s clear this is not a strategy, just an assembly of lobby interests.”
Burke added: “Green day was supposed to be an opportunity to get back in the green race, but this is just supporting [fossil fuel] lobbies.”
Meanwhile Chris Venables, of the Green Alliance think tank, said: “There can be no energy security while the UK remains dangerously reliant on volatile global oil and gas markets.
“A real plan to bring down eye-watering energy bills by protecting the public from expensive fossil fuels must have renewable energy at its heart. Luckily, the government has a whole range of incredibly simple tools at its disposal to speed up the rollout of cheap, clean power.
“If those remain collecting dust on the shelf next week, it will be almost impossible for industry and business, never mind environmentalists and fuel poverty groups, to take this new plan seriously at all.”
