Britain Approves Oil and Gas Field , in North Sea.
On Sept. 27, the British government greenlit the development of the Rosebank field, CNN reports.
The massive oil and gas field sits
northwest of Shetland in Scotland.
As the North Sea's biggest undeveloped
oil and gas field, it has the capability of producing 500 million oil barrels.
Britain's approval of the project has been criticized over its impact on the climate crisis.
Critics also question the country's ability to meet its promise to have zero carbon emissions by 2050.
A spokesperson for the North Sea Transition Authority said that the approval was made "taking net zero considerations into account throughout the project's lifecycle.".
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak argues that the
North Sea development will help to lower bills
while providing the country with energy security.
Even when we’ve reached net zero in 2050,
a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas. But there are those who would rather that it come from hostile states than from supplies we have here at home, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, via statement.
However, opponents say that
Britain exports 80% of its oil, CNN reports. .
Rosebank will do nothing to lower
fuel bills or boost U.K. energy security.
Most of this oil will be shipped abroad and then sold back to us at whatever price makes the oil and gas industry the most profit, Tessa Khan, climate lawyer, via statement