UK approves Jackdaw gas field

The UK government gave its approval for drilling to begin in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea on Wednesday after years of legal and political problems.

Labour government justification

Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the new gas field would protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter.

Scottish court blocked approval

The gas field had previously been approved by the previous Conservative government but was held up by a Scottish court that said the approval failed to consider carbon emissions.

Energy Minister timeline

Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said gas could start flowing to british houses and businesses by the end of the month, increasing domestic gas production by 6% for 11 years.

Shell and Green Party reactions

Shell welcomed the decision, while the Green Party called it 'climate vandalism' and Greenpeace said the approval showed 'the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy'.

“the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy”

Climate and energy context

The UK is targeting net zero emissions by 2050 amid a new UN report saying the world is heading for 2.8 degrees of warming, far beyond the 1.5 degrees Paris target.