A coalition of 211 musicians has submitted a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham opposing proposed drilling projects in the North Sea. The signatories include members of Radiohead, Massive Attack, the Cure, and numerous other established artists across multiple genres. The letter specifically targets two developments: the Rosebank oilfield located approximately 80 miles northwest of the Shetland Islands, and the Jackdaw gasfield near Aberdeen.
The artists argue that these projects would not deliver the stated benefits of lowering energy costs or enhancing national energy security, as the extracted oil would largely be exported rather than remaining for domestic use. In their correspondence, the musicians emphasize that climate impacts are already affecting daily life through disruptions to schools, workplaces, hospitals, and transportation networks. They point to current weather patterns and environmental conditions as evidence of urgent climate concerns.
Aadura, the company developing both projects, contends that the ventures would generate £10.8 billion in investment and create approximately 3,500 jobs during peak construction, with 880 permanent positions during the production phase. Environmental organizations counter that extraction from the UK’s largest remaining untapped oilfield would accelerate climate change, with estimates indicating Rosebank could produce over 250 million tonnes of CO2 throughout its operational lifetime, equivalent to 70 percent of annual UK emissions.
The government consultations for both projects have concluded, with ministers now tasked with determining their approval. These decisions follow a legal challenge from Greenpeace that previously invalidated approvals granted by the prior administration. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has stated that North Sea resources remain strategically important for the nation’s energy system and job creation while transitioning toward renewable energy sources.
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