Prime Minister must show courage over fossil fuels
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must show world leaders the UK is ready to get serious over the climate crisis by announcing a ‘massive and meaningful’ windfall tax on oil and gas companies, say the Scottish Greens.
They challenged him to use his hastily arranged trip to Egypt to show that he will stand up to the energy sector by making clear excessive profits such as those announced by Shell and BP this month will be targeted.
And they urged him to go even further by announcing a ban on new licences for fossil fuels to demonstrate ‘real leadership’.
Speaking on the first day COP27, Scottish Greens climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP said:
“We are beyond time to act, we aren’t seeing nearly enough effort to save our planet and recent events show Westminster is only making matters worse.
“The goal of 1.5 degrees effectively died during the UK’s COP Presidency, millions more will now suffer as a result. Keeping the world to below 2 degrees of warming is now on a knife edge but will also slip away without dramatic change.
“Scotland and the UK should be a renewable energy powerhouse, instead this Tory government seems hell bent on locking us in the past.
“COP27 however provides the new Prime Minister with his first opportunity to demonstrate real commitment to tackling the climate crisis by showing he is willing to stand up to big oil and gas and set the country towards a new, cleaner future.
“By imposing a massive and meaningful windfall tax, without the kind of ridiculous loopholes the last attempt baked in, he can send a message that the age of the North Sea being plundered for profit at any cost is finally over, that people matter more.
“In doing so he could bring almost immediate relief to millions of families facing a winter of soaring energy costs and bills, raising much needed funds that can be used to accelerate a fair Just Transition for the sector.
“He could also surprise other countries by showing real courage and leadership of the kind other northern nations like Denmark have, rather than revert to Tory form.
“Drilling is not the answer. Attempting to extend the life of this dying industry while its workers are being left behind is not the answer. Hiding behind pandemics, wars and the cost of living crisis is not the answer.
“But while the taps are still running and obscene profits are being made, we can make sure those who have helped create the crises are made to pay.
“By announcing a ban on new fossil fuel extraction licences for oil and gas, following Scotland’s position over fracking and coal - he would demonstrate real leadership.
“Anything less will signal a failure for the UK and disaster for the world.”