The North Sea oil industry, a key economic driver for decades, faces terminal decline as oil production drops and companies pull out.
Last year, the basin had its lowest production year since it was established as an oil basin in the 1970s.
Unions and climate groups, once adversaries, now unite to ensure a fair transition to low-carbon jobs for the 60,000 workers affected.
Political parties are divided on how to handle the transition, with Labour promising no job losses and Conservatives pushing for continued exploration.
Key quote:
“We simply can’t let these workers be the coalminers of this generation, with all the devastation to lives and communities that would entail.”
— Joe Rollin, senior organiser at Unite, which represents oil and gas workers.
Why this matters:
The decline of North Sea oil threatens the livelihoods of thousands of workers. Climate groups see the potential for a significant reduction in carbon emissions and a chance to pivot to sustainable energy sources. However, they are also acutely aware that this shift needs to be just and equitable, ensuring that those who have powered the economy for so long are not left behind.
New oil and gas licences for the North Sea are incompatible with the UK’s international climate commitments and the Paris climate agreement, analysts have said.
Prospective oil projects in the North Sea with the capacity to produce more than a billion barrels will avoid a new test designed to assess their impact on the climate crisis.
