Rosebank risks deepening distrust

The document argues that the UK government's decision on the Rosebank oil field is a critical test of climate leadership. It highlights public support for clean energy and a desire for strong leadership against polluting businesses, while noting a lingering sense of identity and pride tied to the fossil fuel industry. In Scotland, there is a specific demand for the Scottish Government's perspective to be incorporated into the decision-making process.

• The Rosebank oil field is highly contentious, with projected CO2 emissions exceeding 200 million tonnes, which is more than the combined annual emissions of all 28 low-income countries.
• UK citizens generally feel concerned about the global reliance on oil and gas, and there is a belief that strong leadership involves challenging businesses that pollute the environment.
• While there is excitement for clean energy, many people maintain a sense of pride and identity linked to the fossil fuel industries that historically provided jobs and built communities; therefore, the transition requires evidence of well-paid, well-supported jobs in the clean energy sector.
• In Scotland, there is a strong emphasis on the role of the Scottish Government, with 44% of people stating that Holyrood should oppose Westminster in ending new offshore drilling licenses in the North Sea.
• Public sentiment in Scotland shows a preference for the offshore wind industry over the North Sea oil and gas industry.

APA

Peet, E. (2026). Rosebank risks deepening distrust. Climate Outreach. https://climateoutreach.org/rosebank-risks-deepening-distrust/

Chicago

Peet, Emma. Rosebank risks deepening distrust. Climate Outreach, 2026. https://climateoutreach.org/rosebank-risks-deepening-distrust/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Peet |first1=Emma |title=Rosebank risks deepening distrust |publisher=Climate Outreach |date=24 February 2026 |url=https://climateoutreach.org/rosebank-risks-deepening-distrust/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{peet2026rosebank, author = {Peet, Emma}, title = {{Rosebank risks deepening distrust}}, institution = {Climate Outreach}, year = {2026}, month = feb, url = {https://climateoutreach.org/rosebank-risks-deepening-distrust/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }