ONLY concerted political leadership and not the market can deliver a “just and fair” transition by 2030, researchers said today.

Experts at Robert Gordon University found only 0.3 per cent of the thousands of market-driven scenarios they analysed produced a transition away from fossil fuels that delivered for the 150,000 workers — predominantly in Scotland — reliant on North Sea oil and gas production.

Report author Professor Paul de Leeuw concluded that only political action could “deliver a just and fair transition, maintaining the workforce to 2030 to deliver a long-term net zero future.”

SNP’s net zero and energy secretary Mairi McAllan said the Scottish government’s long-delayed energy strategy and just transition plan would “set out our vision for a future energy system that delivers affordable, secure, clean energy and delivers economic benefits to every part of the country.”

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman commented: “Expertise from offshore energies such as oil and gas will be crucial for the transition to net zero — and our Green Jobs Plan will ensure we have the sufficient skills to tackle emerging and future workforce demands across the economy.”