Can Burnham justify giving the go ahead to oil drilling? Yes, but these must be the conditions | Michael Jacobs

The British government faces a critical decision regarding two oil and gas fields, Rosebank in the North Atlantic and Jackdaw in the North Sea. Prime Minister Andy Burnham must weigh the desires of the oil and gas industry and unions, against the voices of environmentalists, all while addressing the urgent climate crisis and energy supply concerns.

Labour’s manifesto pledge against approving new drilling licences presents a challenge, as the fields already hold licences granted by the previous Conservative government in 2022 and 2023. However, the court of session in Edinburgh recently ruled that the environmental impact assessments relied upon for the initial approval were unlawful.

The court acknowledged that the Conservative government had failed to account for the emissions generated when the oil and gas from these fields are burned, thereby requiring a new assessment and approval process.

Professor Michael Jacobs, a political economy expert at the University of Sheffield and a former advisor to Gordon Brown, suggests that carbon capture and storage technology may provide a potential solution. By implementing this technology, the Rosebank site could become compatible with UK net zero commitments, provided the owners are willing to invest the necessary resources. This option could help appease environmental concerns, while still allowing for the continued operation of the existing oil and gas fields.