The UK's independent Committee on Climate Change has said that “stringent tests” must be applied to any new North Sea oil and gas exploration licences - but stopped short of stating they could not be issued.
New drilling would not reduce energy bills for UK consumers, the committee found, and its chair - former Conservative environment secretary Lord Deben - said he would “favour” a moratorium on North Sea exploration.
Refusing new licences would “send a clear signal to investors and consumers that the UK is committed” to its climate goals, he said, helping to “strengthen climate ambition internationally”.
