Page 7 - Gi_Feb2020

industry & government news

CAMPAIGNERS CRITICISE UK OIL countries such as Nigeria and Brazil,
The UK’s plans place it ahead of

AND GAS EXPANSION PLANS the report says, with plans to open up
undeveloped and “undiscovered” fields
representing more than 14.3 billion
barrels of oil and gas.
The network is supported by Global
Witness and 14 other organisations.
Stuart McWilliam, of Global Witness,
said: “These new statistics frankly make
a mockery of claims that the UK is a
leader in the fight against climate change.
Successive UK governments have not
only ignored the role of oil and gas, but
ensured we are expanding its production.
“This is simply not compatible
with the Paris climate goals to avoid
CLIMATE CAMPAIGNERS ARE
CALLING FOR A WIND DOWN OF irreversible climate breakdown.”
FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTION He pointed out that later this year the
UK will be hosting the UN’s next climate
THE UK’S CONTRIBUTION to tackling beyond 1.5 degrees of warming and summit in Glasgow.
climate change is being undermined make it impossible to meet international “If the UK is really to lead the world
by expanding oil and gas production, commitments under the Paris in the battle against climate change,”
according to a report from campaigners. Agreement – even if coal use was phased he added, “the government will need
In a list of the 10 countries with the out overnight and emissions from to abandon these expansion plans and
biggest plans for increased extraction cement production drastically reduced. instead announce the start of a planned
of fossil fuels, the UK is ranked eighth, However, The Herald Scotland reports phase-out of fossil fuels.
which the Global Gas and Oil Network that every major international oil “We are facing a climate emergency –
(GGON), a coalition of environmental company has sanctioned new oil or our planet and our country can’t afford
charities, said completely undermines gas projects, or both, which are not more dither and delay, otherwise the
any claims the nation is a leader in the compliant with the goals set in Paris. battle to save the planet could be lost.”
fight against climate change. Between them they would “lock in” Worldwide, over the next five years,
The research analyses planned oil and carbon emissions until at least 2050. the oil and gas sector has plans to invest
gas expansion across more than 65,000 GGON says it has focused on expansion $1.4 trillion in new fields and methods
fields worldwide and concludes that, if it projects within the next five years to of extraction.
goes ahead, global temperatures will rise emphasise the urgent need to plot a Critics say this would lock companies
well above the target of 1.5°C that was different way ahead. It is calling for and countries on a path that will
agreed in Paris at COP21. a planned wind down of fossil fuel guarantee 148 gigatonnes of cumulative
It notes that companies are set to extraction, ensuring plans can be put carbon dioxide emissions, the
invest an additional £1.09 trillion in in place to create a transition to other equivalent of building 1,200 new coal-
new extraction projects over the next forms of energy and industries that are fired power stations.
five years, the majority in shale and socially just and economically sound. America and Canada are responsible
offshore oil and gas. High-income countries should be for 85 per cent of the potential
The report claims carbon emissions “first movers” in this process, it says, expansion in production, followed by
from fields and mines operating while investors should stop financing Argentina, Chile, Norway, Australia,
currently would already push the world projects that undermine climate goals. Mexico and the UK.

BRITISH GAS TO TAKE ON BREEZE ENERGY CUSTOMERS

BRITISH GAS HAS been appointed to – including money owed to both
take on the supply of 18,000 customers existing and former customers of
after another small supplier ceased Breeze Energy – will be honoured,
trading at the end of 2019. with British Gas absorbing a
Ofgem has appointed British Gas “significant portion” of these costs.
to take on Breeze Energy’s domestic Philippa Pickford, Ofgem’s Director
customers following a competitive of Future Retail Markets, said: “Once
process after the supplier, which the transfer has been completed,
topped Citizens Advice customer customers can shop around for a better
rankings in recent months, ceased deal if they wish to.”
trading shortly before Christmas. Customers will not be charged exit
The Press Association reports fees if they decide to switch to another BREEZE ENERGY CEASED
that outstanding credit balances supplier, Ofgem added. TRADING AT THE END OF 2019

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News.indd 2
News.indd 2 16/01/2020 14:53