Of course we shouldn’t drill for more oil in the North Sea – we cancelled further exploitation for a reason | Bill McGuire
Why it matters: The cancellation cuts UK oil output by ~5 million t/yr, affecting 30,000 workers and the national carbon budget.
- UK government announced the cancellation of further North Sea oil licences, citing carbon‑budget constraints and low profitability (source: Bill McGuire).
- BP and Shell expressed concern that the decision could jeopardise up to 30,000 jobs and reduce the UK's oil output by roughly 5 million tonnes annually (industry statements).
- Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth praised the move, calling it a necessary shift toward renewable energy and a concrete step to meet the 2030 net‑zero goal (environmental NGOs).
The UK government has halted plans for new North Sea oil drilling, citing climate targets and dwindling economic returns. Oil majors warn the move threatens jobs and energy security, while environmental groups hail it as a decisive climate step.
