Environmental organizations Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have raised concerns about the potential climate implications of several major policy decisions facing the government. In a letter to the prime minister, the groups argue that decisions on North Sea drilling expansion, airport growth, electric vehicle mandates, and heating system subsidies should not be evaluated in isolation but rather assessed for their combined environmental impact.
According to analysis presented by the campaigners, approving the Rosebank oilfield drilling project, expanding Heathrow Airport, weakening EV sales requirements, and reducing heat pump installation grants would collectively result in approximately 402 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the next 25 years. The groups contend this level of emissions would exceed what 106 coal plants produce annually and would substantially hinder the UK’s ability to meet its established carbon budgets and net zero commitments.
The government has already approved drilling at the Jackdaw gasfield, and the North Sea fossil fuel industry is now seeking approval for the more emissions-intensive Rosebank project. Meanwhile, automobile manufacturers have requested the government relax its requirement that all new vehicles be electric by 2035, proposing instead that roughly half of new cars could still be petrol or diesel powered in 2030. Airlines are simultaneously advocating for Heathrow expansion, which the Chancellor John Healey supports as an economic growth strategy, while the upcoming budget is expected to reduce funding for the boiler upgrade scheme that helps households transition from gas boilers to electric heat pumps.
Greenpeace’s chief scientist characterized the situation as risking a policy approach that could undermine progress already achieved on climate action. Campaigners argue that rejecting these high-carbon initiatives would enable the UK to develop a cleaner economy while maintaining competitive advantages, citing data showing the clean energy sector has expanded faster than the broader economy. A government spokesperson responded by stating that reindustrialization efforts would not compromise climate obligations or net zero goals, pointing to £110 billion in announced clean energy investment and renewable energy auction results.
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