Prominent climate researchers from the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester have written an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressing concern about reported plans to approve new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The scientists note that Burnham, in his previous role as mayor of Greater Manchester, championed one of the UK’s most ambitious local climate initiatives with a target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2038.
The letter specifically addresses potential approval of the Jackdaw and Rosebank oilfields, which received initial authorization under the previous Conservative government but were placed under legal review. A court ruling determined that a more thorough environmental assessment was needed to account for the climate impact of burning fossil fuels extracted from these sites. A consultation on the Jackdaw project is scheduled to conclude on 8 August.
The scientists, led by Professor Kevin Anderson, argue that approving further offshore drilling would represent a departure from the principles Burnham promoted as mayor and would undermine the UK’s international climate commitments. They emphasize that global carbon dioxide emissions must decrease by approximately 8% annually to meet even the weaker interpretation of the Paris Climate Agreement’s 2°C warming limit. With global temperatures having already reached the 1.5°C threshold and extreme weather events becoming more frequent across the UK and Europe, the researchers contend that greenlighting new fossil fuel extraction is incompatible with climate obligations.
The letter notes that Labour made a manifesto commitment against issuing new oil and gas licenses, though Jackdaw and Rosebank were already in the licensing system at the time of the previous general election. The scientists call on Burnham to demonstrate the same evidence-based leadership and political resolve he displayed in Greater Manchester, warning that future generations will judge governments not on their justifications for expanding fossil fuel production, but on whether they acted consistently with their stated climate commitments when faced with clear scientific evidence.
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