Rishi Sunak defends oil drilling expansion as critics warn of climate consequences – By Jennifer Scott (Sky News) / July 31, 2023
The prime minister insists plans to grant “hundreds” of new licences off the coast of Scotland are “entirely consistent” with the government’s net zero goals. But one of his MPs warns he will be on “the wrong side of history”.
Rishi Sunak has defended a planned expansion of oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, claiming it is “entirely consistent” with the government’s goal to reach net zero by 2050.
This morning, Number 10 announced plans to grant hundreds of new oil and gas licences off the coast of Scotland to “boost British energy independence” and “reduce reliance on hostile states”.
But critics claimed the decision sent “a wrecking ball through the UK’s climate commitments”, with one Tory MP warning the prime minister would end up “on the wrong side of history” if it went ahead.
The move also puts down a marker between the government and Labour, which has proposed a block on all domestic new oil and gas drilling as part of its strategy to achieve zero-carbon electricity by 2030.
CONTINUE > https://news.sky.com/story/rishi-sunak-heads-to-scotland-for-net-zero-energy-policy-push-12930459
