FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the Cambo oil field should “not be given the green light” as it wouldn’t pass climate assessments.
The SNP leader made the comments after a statement to Holyrood on COP26 where she set out what the Scottish Government intends to do going forward.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon called on the First Minister to oppose the oil field as “time is running out”.
It is the first time Sturgeon has come out and explicitly said that the oil field, 125km off the north coast of Shetland, should not go ahead due to its impact on the climate crisis.
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In August the First Minister was challenged by activists in Govanhill over her position, but she would not commit to opposing the field outright.
But in Holyrood this afternoon, Sturgeon said that in light of the climate crisis there should be no new oil fields brought into production.
Cambo is understood to contain over 800 million barrels of oil and has been referred to as one of the “largest undeveloped fields on the UK continental shelf”.
The crude oil field became one of the main points of contention for environmental activists on the ground at COP26, with many calling on the UK Government to oppose it.
And now, the First Minister has said that the Scottish Government is moving away from the policy of maximum economic recovery in the oil and gas industries.
After Sturgeon’s statement on COP26, where she vowed to continue to fight the case for finance for loss and damage caused by climate change, she was challenged on Cambo.
Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour MSP, said: “If we are serious about averting climate catastrophe and accelerating towards a just transition to a green economy, Cambo cannot go ahead.
“There is no rigorous climate change test that Cambo can possibly pass, so the First Minister must do more than ask the UK Government to simply reassess the proposed oil field.
“Time is running out, will the First Minister oppose Cambo in the strongest political terms and provide the political leadership that has been lacking?”
The First Minister replied by stating she had made her position “very clear”.
She added: “I don’t think we can go on extracting new oil and gas forever, that’s why we’ve moved away from the policy of maximum economic recovery and I don’t think we can go and continue to give the go-ahead to new oil fields.
“So, I don’t think Cambo should get the green light.
“I am not the one taking that decision so I’ve set out a proposal for the climate assessment and I think the presumption would be that Cambo shouldn’t and wouldn’t pass any rigorous climate assessment.
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“If I had the power, and Monica Lennon might want to join me in calling for the powers to be transferred to Scotland so that we can actually take those decisions, but given that it’s somebody else that has the power what I’ve done is set out a process by which a different decision could be arrived at.
“But as soon as Monica Lennon wants to argue that the powers should be in our hands, she’ll find a willing ally in me.”
It comes as the First Minister set out how the Scottish Government will continue to champion the issue of loss and damage.
Activists at COP26 demanded the UK Government reassess the license set to be given to Cambo
Scotland became the first developed country in the world to commit to supporting countries in the Global South who are suffering the irreversible effects of climate change, caused by major polluters in developing countries.
Sturgeon said that the final position agreed at COP26 “recognised” loss and damage but does not go far enough.
She added: "I particularly regret the decision by some developed nations to block the establishment of a Glasgow Financial Facility on Loss and Damage.
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"Over the weekend I met with Dr Saleemul Huq, one of the leading campaigners on this issue.
“I have pledged that the Scottish Government will continue to work with him and others to build the case on loss and damage ahead of COP27 in Egypt.
"Loss and damage was an example of Scotland’s leadership during this COP.
“But ultimately Scotland can only lead and speak with credibility if we deliver our own net zero targets."
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