Make polluters pay for climate destruction
BP’s eye-watering profits show why we need a watertight windfall tax to ensure polluters support a just transition from fossil fuels to renewables, says the Scottish Greens climate spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP.
Mr Ruskell’s comments come as the oil giant has reported underlying profits of $2.7 billion for Q1 2024.
Mr Ruskell said: “This is obscene. Climate records are being broken almost every month and the world is burning around us, but fossil fuel giants like BP are raking in eye-watering profits.
“The polluters must be made to pay for the damage they are causing if we are to deliver the scale of investment in renewables that is needed and fund a just transition away from oil and gas.
“Yet, the UK government’s windfall tax isn’t fit for purpose. It is too low and it's full of loopholes and incentives to encourage even more domestic drilling.
“To make matters worse, they are talking about climate action one day while awarding new oil and gas licences the next.
“We need to be halting new drilling and leaving it in the ground, not opening new oil fields. All governments have a responsibility to build a future beyond fossil fuels, but Westminster is doubling down on them."
Mr Ruskell added: “The climate crisis cannot be separated from the cost of living crisis, not when households and families are still being hammered by sky high bills and the UK government is doing almost nothing to help.
“Those who are arguing against higher taxes on polluters are not only out of touch with public opinion, they are keeping us tied to an energy policy that is costing households the earth while paving the way for the even greater destruction of our climate.”
