In the North Sea countries, we are fighting against new oil and gas exploration and production by so-called climate leaders, and for a just transition that fulfills the Paris agreement while building sustainable jobs and communities.
The science is clear: fossil fuels are driving the climate crisis and new fossil fuel projects anywhere in the world are a threat to people everywhere. There is no room for any new investments in oil or gas if we are to stay within safe climate limits. This includes the North Sea countries (Norway, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark), who should actually be phasing out faster than other countries due to their historic responsibility.
That’s why we’re fighting new exploration and production across the North Sea countries, with a focus on Norway and the UK. Both countries claim to be climate leaders. However, the stark truth is that the United Kingdom and Norway are constantly pursuing more oil and gas exploration and production. That’s why we’ve ramped up our North Sea work as part of our goal to phase out fossil fuels across the globe.
Contrary to how the countries portray themselves internationally, Norway and the UK continue to support oil and gas extraction. As our recent benchmarking report reveals, this blatantly disregards the Paris Agreement. OCI is therefore working to build international pressure on these North Sea countries to phase out fossil fuel production.
Cooperating closely with our partners on the ground in North Sea countries, we are working to build a broad base of support for a just phase out of fossil fuel production, and increasing ambition and understanding of climate and just transition demands of the wider climate and labor movements. This includes building up the confidence of other organizations and activists to challenge the oil and gas industry’s false solutions and dangerous distractions.
Led by Germany and the UK, the five North Sea producers account for over nine percent of total global greenhouse gas pollution from 1850 to 2021.
New licenses awarded in the North Sea countries since the Paris Agreement went into effect (2017-2023)
Potential CO2 emissions from burning North Sea countries’ oil and gas resources
The percent of future CO2 emissions from burning North Sea countries’ oil and gas resources that come from Norway and the UK.
There is no room for new oil and gas – anywhere. The truth is that there is no such thing as continued responsible, ‘green’ oil and gas production. The only responsible, green measure is a just transition away from fossil fuels. The North Sea countries have high historical responsibility for emissions, but also large capacities for a just transition (in part precisely because they have already exploited much of their oil and gas resources), giving them no excuse for dragging their feet.
If taken together, the North Sea countries would be the 7th largest producer country in the world, placing them ahead of the likes of Qatar and Iraq. This means the North Sea is a significant player – and therefore has every opportunity to provide a positive example to the rest of the world that there is life after fossil fuels.
Climate movements in both countries and across the North Sea have already achieved a number of successes in slowing their countries’ push for new oil and gas and public opinion is increasingly on the side of science and justice. We are working to continue strengthening those partners, contributing to the arguments and strategies needed to convince parties and actors inside and outside of current governments.
A decade on from the Paris Agreement, fossil fuel extraction and use have continued to rise and hit record levels. At the same time, the public finance needed to unlock the required climate action has not been delivered.
A new national poll by Analyse and Tall shows a clear shift in Norwegian public opinion: most voters want the government to rein in the country’s oil and gas industry and step up its climate efforts.
Research released today by Oil Change International and ClientEarth, Wasting Public Money, reveals how Germany is at risk of watering down a 2021 pledge to end taxpayer-backed financing of fossil fuel projects overseas. It outlines Germany’s long-term international role as a significant backer of fossil fuel projects overseas, sounds the alarm that the German coalition may soon seek to weaken their guidelines restricting international fossil fuel finance, and reveals that Germany is considering nearly EUR 1.2 billion in support for overseas fossil fuel projects.
Instead of heading full speed ahead with more oil and gas, the North Sea should be a beacon of a just transition away from fossil fuels. Sign up to our email list and receive the latest information about our work across the North Sea.
