…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
Demonstrators from Ocean Rebellion, a climate protest group, made a statement against the proposed development of the Rosebank oil and gas field by smearing oil over a life-sized fake gannet.
The protest took place near Dundee harbor, with participants pouring containers filled with imitation oil over the mock bird until it was unrecognizable.
Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor has submitted an application to the UK Government for approval to proceed with the Rosebank project, which is the largest undeveloped oil field in the UK.
The field, located west of Shetland, has the potential to yield up to 500 million barrels of oil.
The demonstrators aimed to highlight the negative impact of the oil industry on wildlife, as spills often result in seabirds being coated in oil.
They held a banner reading “Stop Rosebank” as a sign of their opposition to the project.
The protest group argues that the planned development contradicts the Paris Agreement targets and goes against the statements of the UN secretary-general and the International Energy Agency, both of which have stated that new oil and gas ventures are incompatible with climate goals.
Mandy Cairns from Ocean Rebellion criticized Equinor’s plans, emphasizing that the oil field’s development would involve a pipeline cutting through the Faroe-Shetland sponge belt, an area inhabited by delicate deep-sea sponges and 400-year-old clams.
She also raised concerns about the potential impact of a major oil spill from Rosebank on at least 16 Marine Protected Areas.
Kate Treharne, a zoologist from Ocean Rebellion, warned about the catastrophic consequences for the million seabirds that inhabit Shetland if an oil spill were to occur in the area.
In response, a spokesperson for Equinor disputed the claims made by the protesters, asserting that the Rosebank project can help counteract the decline in domestic oil production, improve energy security, and achieve a lower carbon footprint compared to the current average in the UK Continental Shelf.
The company stated that the project aligns with the UK’s North Sea Transition Deal and Equinor’s net-zero ambition, in accordance with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
They emphasized that the environmental impact of the project has been thoroughly assessed and that worst-case impact assessments have been conducted to ensure environmentally responsible development.
The UK Government spokesperson stated that no decision has been made regarding the Rosebank project yet, and it will ultimately be the responsibility of the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to make a decision.
The NSTA, which employs a “life cycle approach” to net-zero regulation, including through its strategy and range of regulatory measures, refrained from commenting on individual cases but emphasized its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions in the industry.