ACTIVISTS have taken their “Stop Cambo” message to the UK Government’s hub at COP26.
Environmental campaigners unfurled banners and flew flags across from the Glasgow Science Centre, where the UK Government are based during the climate change summit.
Across the river from the Blue Zone, where negotiations and speeches from ministers are due to take place next week, the activists installed nine black barrels with the phrase “Stop Cambo” painted across them in white lettering.
The controversial Cambo oil field, off the north-west coast of Shetland, is supposed to contain over 800 million barrels of crude oil, and is set to go into operation next year.
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The UK Government has not yet signed off on the project, co-owned by Siccar Point Energy, based in Aberdeen, and oil giant Shell.
Campaigners are trying to stop the approval being given to the site, after the UN’s IPCC report warned of a “code red for humanity” and called for the end of all exploration for oil and gas sites.
Campaigners took their message to the UK Government's hub
However, the UK Government’s policy in regards to fossil fuels is Maximum Economic Recovery (MER), and there have been no signs that they intend to move away from this.
There is strong public opposition to the oil field, with over 90,000 people signing a letter to Boris Johnson urging him to reject the project.
If given the go ahead, the field would be in operation until 2050 - the date the UK has set as a target for Net Zero emissions.
Activists calling for an end to all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea
Many have argued the Cambo project is incompatible with that goal and that licences for oil and gas production should be reviewed in light of the climate crisis.
Climate campaigners on the ground were not only calling for an end to the Cambo project, but for an end to all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea.
They are also calling for a proper plan of support for oil and gas workers and their communities to speed the transition to renewables.
📢 A message for the UK Government hub across the river 📢
— Friends of the Earth Scotland 🌎 (@FoEScot) November 7, 2021
The UK Government, despite being hosts of COP26, are set to approve the huge new Cambo oil field off Shetland - which would have devastating climate impacts #stopcambo #cop26 pic.twitter.com/lMq72eo3wY
Caroline Rance of Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “The UK Government must listen to the science and the public uproar and reject the Cambo oil field and all new fossil fuel projects. Urgent action on climate means no more coal, oil and gas.
"As a rich nation that built its wealth from fossil fuels, the UK Government must end this toxic relationship that is driving the climate crisis and impacting the worst on vulnerable people who have done the least to cause this problem.
“The Cambo development operators have applied to the UK Government for permission to extract 170 million barrels of oil in the first phase of production alone, which would generate emissions equivalent to the annual carbon pollution from 18 coal-fired power stations."
Activists also installed banners across the river from the COP26 venue
The UK Government has made plenty of noise over the past week claiming that the end is near for coal power, but have made no similar commitments regarding oil and gas.
Rachel Kennerley, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth England, Wales &, Northern Ireland, said: “Cambo is the tip of the iceberg, there are 30 offshore developments clearly threatening any chance of staying within that all important 1.5 degree limit if they go ahead.
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“From Whitehaven Coal mine and Horse Hill oil field in Surrey to the billion dollars of funding for a gas mega project in Mozambique the UK government's relationship with coal, oil and gas is pushing more people into danger from climate breakdown. And it must stop.”
This week at COP26 UN Elder Mary Robinson and UK High Level Climate Action Champion Nigel Topping both spoke out against the Cambo oil field.
COP26 President Alok Sharma has been repeatedly challenged on Cambo with people walking out of meetings in protests at the proposal.
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