Scientists urge PM to honour Manchester climate pledge amid North Sea drilling reports
Leading academics who assisted Andy Burnham in developing the region’s climate strategy argue that approving new fossil fuel extraction signals a retreat from international obligations.
A coalition of leading climate scientists, including Professor Kevin Anderson from the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester, has written to the Prime Minister urging the rejection of new North Sea oil drilling. The experts, who previously assisted former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in developing the region’s carbon neutral by 2038 target, argue that approving the Jackdaw and Rosebank oilfields would contradict Burnham’s past commitments and undermine the UK’s international climate obligations.
The open letter expresses concern over reports that the government intends to approve the Jackdaw and Rosebank oilfields, which were previously approved under the Conservative government but paused due to legal challenges regarding environmental impact assessments. The scientists argue that approving these fields would constitute a profound departure from the principles Burnham promoted as mayor, sending a signal that the UK is backtracking on its global climate commitments.
A consultation on the Jackdaw oilfield is scheduled to conclude on 8 August. The letter highlights the urgency of reducing global emissions amid rising temperatures and extreme weather events, including wildfires in the UK. The academics note that global temperatures have risen to the lower limit of the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C range, with extreme weather events such as widespread moorland fires currently affecting Greater Manchester.
The scientists state that to meet the 2°C limit of the Paris Agreement, global carbon dioxide emissions must fall by almost 8% every year starting immediately. They contend that remaining global carbon budgets continue to shrink rapidly, and that approving further development of oil and gas fields cannot be reconciled with the UK’s repeated commitment to honour its international climate obligations.
While the UK Labour Party’s manifesto promised no new oil and gas licences would be issued, Jackdaw and Rosebank were already in the system at the time of the last general election. The experts urge the Prime Minister to show the same commitment to evidence and political courage that characterised Burnham’s leadership in Greater Manchester, warning that future generations will judge governments by their adherence to scientific evidence rather than the ingenuity used to justify expanding fossil fuel production.
