Rachael Maskell

It is a great pleasure to serve under you in the Chair, Mr Twigg. Rosebank will have a direct consequence for climate destruction and human life. It will impact trust in Government and weaken our global standing as leaders in climate protection. It will release 254 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is 70% of the current emissions for the whole UK. While previous permissions were granted, the courage of Greenpeace and Uplift in seeking a judicial review caused Government to rightly pause. Now, we have an opportunity to set the future pathway for energy. As for Rosebank itself, the scale of gas and oil will have real climate impact, but it will also have an impact on human life. We know that, together, Jackdaw and Rosebank will lead to an additional 32,000 heat-related deaths by the end of the century and will have other impacts on the global climate. We know from the Supreme Court judgment that it is so important to assess the future impact of Rosebank, which is why the examination has been so important. It is ultimately a quasi-judicial decision, but it must also take on board the real crisis we face with the climate today. The submission has been made, and it sits on the Secretary of State’s desk. The question is whether or not the future of our planet matters more than jobs, which could be better invested in the renewable sector for the long term. We need to ensure that we have sustainability for our planet.