10 Sep 2024

New North Sea oil and gas projects have been placed on hold while the UK Government responds to a landmark court case on the environment.  On the 29th August, the UK government announced new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms, aiming to “provide stability for industry, support investment, protect jobs, deliver economic growth, and […]

27 Aug 2024

The UK’s decision to issue new oil and gas exploration licences is being challenged in court by Oceana UK, which argues ministers unlawfully failed to consider the impact on marine life. Oceana UK has moved forward with its legal challenge over fossil fuel exploration licences issued in May 2024 as part of the North Sea […]

25 Jun 2024

The marine conservation campaign group, Oceana, is preparing to take the UK government to court, claiming the decision to issue North Sea oil and gas licences without taking into account their impact on the environment was unlawful. The decision to issue the new licences was unlawful on several grounds, says the charity, including a failure to consider the […]

11 Oct 2022

North Sea oil and gas licenses ‘overlap’ with marine protected areas, which are home to threatened species. The analysis by Uplift found that more than a third of the locations being offered clash with protected zones, the Independent reported. The government’s response to the consultation on the UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment 4 (OESEA4) Environmental Report paved […]

01 Mar 2022

As reported in the Guardian, advisers say refusing new licences would signal green ambition, but final decision must be for ministers. The prospects for an expansion of oil and gas drilling in the North Sea have cleared a major hurdle, as the Committee on Climate Change said “stringent tests” must be applied to any new exploration licences […]

07 Dec 2021

Bob Earll  The Cambo oil field decision was one of those issues that dogged UK Government throughout the COP26 process. How could they on the one hand encourage others to stop extracting fossil fuels and on the other be supporting Cambo. This decision by Shell, coming as it does after COP26, is seen in very […]

09 Mar 2021

Plastics is the oil & gas industries Plan B  … incinerating it simply adds to the emissions Plastic production is set to grow exponentially – undermining climate commitments Channel 4 is screening its Dispatches ‘The dirty truth about your rubbish’  programme the night before this newsletter comes out – Lucy Sielge – see below Client […]