Question reference: S6W-01603
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 July 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) consultation and (b) discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential climate impact of the proposed Cambo oil field.
Answer
Oil & gas, and wider energy policy is reserved to UK Government, including the licensing of exploration and extraction of offshore reserves. UK Government did not consult with Scottish Government prior to issuing the licence for Cambo. On the 12 August, the First Minister wrote to the UK Government, making our position clear that the UK Government to reassess oil and gas licences already issued but where field development has not yet commenced. This would include the proposed Cambo Field. There was a further call for a four nations summit to be convened in order to discuss how we can work together, both in the run up to COP26 and beyond, to ensure that we provide clear leadership to ensure a just transition to net zero that does not repeat the mistakes of the past.
The Scottish Government has offered to work with the UK Government on a revised licence process – to ensure that licences already issued but where field development has not yet commenced are now reassessed in light of the global climate emergency which all of us now face. As part of this process, we would expect to see robust analysis of the climate impacts of the developments.