Rishi Sunak defends granting new North Sea oil and gas licences

Prime Minister Defends Decision to Grant New North Sea Oil and Gas Licences

The UK government has granted 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences, a decision that has been defended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The government has also pledged support for the Acorn Project, a carbon capture project in the north east of Scotland. However, campaigners argue that extracting more fossil fuels from the North Sea will undermine the UK’s climate commitments. Despite this, Sunak maintains that granting the new licences is consistent with the country’s net zero commitments.

Internal Divisions Over Green Policies

The Conservative Party is facing internal divisions over its green policies, including the review of low-traffic neighbourhoods in England. Some MPs are calling for a rethink of these policies.

Support for Acorn Project Confirmed

During an interview on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland program, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the government’s support for the Acorn Project in St Fergus, Aberdeenshire. He later visited the site. The Acorn Project is one of four carbon capture projects that will receive up to £20 billion in funding.

Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Support for Carbon Capture Project in Scotland

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed the government’s support for the Acorn Project in St Fergus, Aberdeenshire. This project, along with three others, will share up to £20 billion in funding. The Acorn Project aims to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions, preventing them from being released into the atmosphere. Sunak believes that this investment will create jobs and generate tax revenue to fund public services.

Controversy Over New Oil and Gas Licences

The decision to grant new oil and gas licences has been met with criticism from climate campaigners. They argue that extracting more fossil fuels from the North Sea will undermine the UK’s climate commitments. Oxfam climate change policy advisor Lyndsay Walsh describes the government’s announcement as hypocritical and dangerously inconsistent. Environmental charity Friends of the Earth believes that the government should focus on energy efficiency and renewable resources instead of promoting fossil fuels. These critics emphasize the need to transition to a low carbon economy and invest in renewable energy sources.

What is Carbon Capture?

Carbon capture is a process that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from burning fossil fuels and either reuses it or stores it underground. This technology is seen as a vital tool in achieving the net zero target by 2050. However, some environmentalists argue that it distracts from the urgent need to reduce emissions.

Concerns About Meeting Net Zero Target

There are concerns about the UK government’s ability to meet its net zero target by 2050. Climate advisers have warned that the country risks falling behind without faster action. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is committed to meeting the target in a pragmatic and proportionate way, but without adding unnecessary costs and burdens to families.

Related Topics

• Carbon capture and storage
• Rishi Sunak
• Climate change

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The issues highlighted in the article are related to the UK government’s decision to grant new oil and gas licenses and support a carbon capture project. These decisions have implications for achieving affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), promoting sustainable industry and infrastructure (SDG 9), taking climate action (SDG 13), and fostering partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to increasing the share of renewable energy, upgrading infrastructure for sustainability, integrating climate change measures into policies, and promoting partnerships for sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:

• Share of renewable energy in the energy mix
• Investment in carbon capture projects
• Emissions reduction from carbon capture and storage
• Creation of jobs in the renewable energy sector

The article mentions the share of renewable energy, investment in carbon capture projects, emissions reduction, and job creation as indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: bbc.com

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