From the BBC news this morning:
The government will issue hundreds of new oil and gas licences for the North Sea, Rishi Sunak confirms. The first will be issued this autumn – with at least 100 production licences in the next round.
Ed Hawkins is a Professor of climate science at the University of Reading and wrote:
“July was hottest month ever for human civilisation because of burning fossil fuels. Every new oil & gas license makes it harder for world to reach net-zero emissions & so stop global warming. Every delay in stopping global warming means worse climate impacts & more suffering.”
The Right Honourable Chris Skidmore, Conservative MP for Kingswood wrote:
“This is the wrong decision at precisely the wrong time, when the rest of the world is experiencing record heat waves. It is on the wrong side of a future economy that will be founded on renewable and clean industries and not fossil fuels. It is on the wrong side of modern voters who will vote with their feet at the next General Election for parties that protect, and not threaten, our environment. And it is on the wrong side of history, that will not look favourably on the decision taken today. Worryingly, this decision has also been announced when MPs are on recess, unable to hold the government to account. I will be writing to the speaker to call for an emergency debate as soon as we return.”
