CO2 emissions from new North Sea drilling sites would match 30 years’ worth from UK households

The government has pledged not to issue any new licenses to oil and gas fields, but has stopped short of rescinding licences currently in the pipeline. Photograph: Terry Whittaker/imageBROKER/Shutterstock

Potential new North Sea oil and gas fields with early stage licences from the UK would emit as much carbon dioxide as British households produce in three decades.

The finding has led to calls to the government to reject demands from fossil fuel producers for the final permits needed to allow their operations to go ahead.