(Image: Emma Bainbridge)
A group of 10 national unions have signed an open letter to Andy Burnham urging him not to approve the Rosebank oil field.
The development off Shetland, as well as the Jackdaw gas field, were ruled unlawful by the Court of Session because the UK Government had not adequately considered downstream emissions when granting the licence.
Approval was initially given by the Conservative government, and Mr Burnham's administration will take a final decision on the new application.
The Labour Party manifesto pledged not to issue any new licenses to explore new oil and gas fields.
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- North Sea report warns blocking Rosebank will cost billions
- Burnham told ‘excuse has gone’ over Jackdaw decision
- Rosebank and Jackdaw fields could cause 65,000 excess deaths
This week an analysis paid for by Adura, the joint venture between Equinor - the developer of Rosebank - and Shell warned a decision not to approve drilling on Rosebank, Jackdaw and other planned oil developments would result in 3,330 fewer jobs being supported every year. It would also result in £10.8 billion less economic value for the UK over the next decade.
Oxfam Scotland said a report commissioned by an oil company recommending more drilling was "like asking a seagull whether chips should be left unguarded".
Now Unison, the National Education Union, the Public and Commercial Services Union, the Communication Workers Union, the University and College Union, Equity, the Fire Brigades Union, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union, Industrial Workers' Union of Great Britain, and United Voices of the World along with more than 2,000 other trade unionists, public sector workers and members of the public have sent an open letter to Mr Burnham.
It says: "Rosebank would violate the UK’s international climate commitments. The scientific evidence shows there is no room for new North Sea oil and gas projects if we are to stay within thresholds set out in the Paris Agreement.
"This oil field – most of which is oil destined for export – would do nothing to lower bills or boost energy security. Thanks to the enormous tax breaks for new drilling in the UK, approving it could actually lead to a net loss to the Treasury of over £250 million, while the field’s owners Equinor and Ithaca pocket up to £1.5bn in profit.
"If Rosebank goes ahead, around two hundred million pounds in profit would also flow to a company, Delek Group, that is contributing to human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Delek Group – which operates in illegal Israeli settlements, is on the UN database of companies involved in activities giving rise to human rights violations against Palestinians, and provides fuel to Israel’s military – is the majority-owner of Ithaca Energy, Rosebank’s co-owner.
"Rosebank will do little to stem the decline in the North Sea workforce, which has seen jobs more than halve in the past decade, despite new field approvals.
"If we remain distracted by ever-diminishing amounts of oil and gas, the UK risks missing huge opportunities from having some of the world’s best renewable resources. We should be investing in renewable energy and manufacturing, supporting workers into secure, long-term jobs that can serve social needs.
"The Labour government must do the right thing by the planet, UK communities and workers, and stop Rosebank."
Alex Heard, a teacher from Norwich, said: "This year, the climate crisis has pushed our schools to breaking point.
"As a science teacher, it is crystal clear that we can have no new oil and gas if we are to avoid breaching catastrophic tipping points."
Protestors outside Scotland's Court of Session, which ruled the former Conservative Government's decision to approve the proposed Rosebank oil field development in 2023 was unlawful. (Image: Andrew Perry/Uplift)
Jordan Rivera, an NHS occupational therapist, said: "This isn’t some future threat, it’s affecting working people and lives right now.
"We saw critical operations being cancelled due to the heat, and A&E, ambulances and phone lines were all hit with record demand.”
Lee Hunter, regional chair of the Fire Brigades Union North West said: "We’re not prepared for the extremes we’re seeing.
"Whether it’s record wildfires this summer, or the increase in flooding we’re dealing with in winters, firefighters are on the frontline. This is the new normal, and we’re stretched to our limits. That’s why our union is saying no to Rosebank. It will just pour more fuel on the fire, making an already difficult job impossible."
Unison general secretary, Andrea Egan said: “The Labour government needs to accept that the more fossil fuels we burn, the more extreme our weather will become. Each summer will be worse than the last, along with droughts and severe flooding.
"Public service workers are on the frontline of extreme weather and need guarantees that the government is serious about tackling climate change.
"Exploiting new oil fields won’t reduce bills or make our energy supplies more secure. The Prime Minister must act in the best interests of the country and reject Rosebank."
President of the National Education Union, Ed Harlow said: “Andy Burnham needs to listen to public sector workers who experienced what it’s like to try and teach children, care for the sick and elderly, and keep this country moving in extreme heat.
“There is nothing ‘pragmatic’ in knowingly making these conditions worse, just so a handful of oil and gas firms can keep profiting. Approving Rosebank, after the summer we’ve had, would be outright arson.
“We need this government to put our need for lower bills and a safe climate ahead of their balance sheets, and speed up the shift to clean energy.”
A spokesperson for the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “The North Sea remains a vital national asset and oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come – alongside transitioning to clean power to protect jobs and tackle the climate crisis.
“Any decision will take into account all relevant evidence, including environmental assessments and public representations received as part of the regulatory process.”