The leading trade body for the UK’s offshore energy industry has said its transition plans send a positive signal to the world as it looks for answers on net zero and energy security.
It comes as the Climate Change Committee today published its response to a UK Government consultation on future licensing, calling for a presumption against exploration and urging industry to go further in its emissions commitments. The Climate Change Committee could not say if their exploration call would have an impact on the UK’s emissions.
At the same time, the committee also noted UK production has lower emissions than many other countries and that the UK can still meet its carbon budgets and develop new fields if they accelerate efforts to cut emissions from production.
The committee also noted that energy security considerations were outside of its scope, and that the UK will continue to be a net importer of fossil fuels for the foreseeable future, “implying there may be emissions advantage to UK production replacing imports”.
Responding to the letter, the sector’s leading trade body Offshore Energies UK committed to continuing to work with the committee to rapidly reduce its emissions.
Mike Tholen, Sustainability Director for Offshore Energies UK, said:
“The Committee on Climate Change recognises that there is a continued role for domestic production if we can accelerate our climate ambitions and we hear that challenge today.
“We are demonstrating by our actions that we are capable of delivering our climate commitments and will continue to do so while providing energy security for the UK.
“The North Sea Transition Deal agreed with the UK Government will deliver a managed transition, support cleaner energies and deliver net zero in a way that also guarantees reliable energy supplies. With the right support and a managed plan, we have an opportunity to support jobs and skills here in the UK which be exported globally. This is a positive signal which shows climate leadership by taking accountability and maximises the opportunities of a homegrown transition for UK jobs and businesses.”
ENDS
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