UK approves drilling at controversial North Sea gas field despite environmental concerns

Published on 21/10/2026 - 12:58 GMT+2

The UK government on Wednesday announced plans to start drilling in a controversial North Sea gas field.

The decision was welcomed by energy groups but criticised by environmentalists, who warned of higher carbon emissions. The Jackdaw field lies 240 kilometres east of Aberdeen, Scotland.

However, the government argued that the project could strengthen the UK's energy security as the war in Iran drives up energy prices.

"At a time when people are really struggling, it's right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help," Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham said.

"We're committed to moving towards renewable energy and reaching net zero by 2050. But even on our ambitious climate path, we'll still require oil and gas as part of our energy needs for decades to come."

Critics also argue that the move will do little to lower electricity bills for UK households, as oil and gas prices are set by global markets.

A Scottish court ruled last year that previous approvals for Jackdaw and Rosebank, another North Sea oil and gas project, were unlawful after failing to account for their indirect carbon emissions.

The government has yet to decide whether to approve Rosebank, which is believed to hold the UK's largest untapped oil reserves.

Zack Polanski, leader of the left-wing Green Party, called the decision "climate vandalism", while Greenpeace said the approval showed "the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy".

"True pragmatism means severing our reliance on expensive oil and gas that leaves British households broke, supercharges extreme weather, and leaves our energy security at the mercy of petrostates," said Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace UK.