by Niall Christie

Scotland editor

THE government is under pressure from trade unions and environmental campaigners to speed up transition plans for the North Sea energy sector. 

Conservative ministers were accused today of failing to show climate leadership after the government’s new deal for the offshore energy sector failed to rule out licensing further oil and gas drilling.

The North Sea Transition Deal includes targets for the oil and gas sector to reduce emissions over the next decade, and up to £16 billion of investment to support jobs and cut pollution.

Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng pledged not to “leave workers behind,” reiterating the “potential of the oil and gas sector to power the green industrial revolution.”

But the government also said that it would introduce a “climate compatibility checkpoint” so that new oil and gas licences can be awarded in future, provided that the projects align with wider climate objectives.

Campaigners accused ministers of a “colossal failure” of leadership as Britain prepares to host a United Nations climate change conference (Cop26) in November because it has not ruled out new licences for energy extraction in the North Sea.

Mel Evans, head of the Greenpeace UK oil campaign, argued that the plans “fall woefully short, giving mixed messages on the world stage.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Ryan Morrison said: “To avoid climate breakdown, there can be no new licences and existing production must be wound down over the next decade. A new ‘climate compatibility checkpoint’ isn’t going to change that reality.”

RMT general secretary Mick Cash called for a “just transition” for all workers in the offshore oil and gas sector.

He added that the industry must be compelled to invest more in a shift to offshore wind and hydrogen power, along with technology allowing the capture and permanent underground storage of carbon emissions from fossil fuels.