Today our legal challenges against the Rosebank oil field were officially given the green light to go to the Scottish courts on 12-15th November. We were very confident that the permission would come, but now it is certain: Rosebank’s approval will be legally challenged.
We have been given permission to proceed on ALL of our proposed grounds on why we think the approval was unlawful:
Last September, the previous UK government made the disastrous decision to approve the development of the controversial Rosebank oil field. Now, with your help, we can and will reverse their decision.
Rosebank will do nothing to lower energy bills, save jobs, or make our energy supply more secure. It will only make billions for oil giants, with the UK public footing the bill through billions in tax breaks. The previous government knew this - and approved the field anyway. We believe that the decision to approve Rosebank was not only a disaster for the climate, and morally and economically wrong, but unlawful. Claims that drilling Rosebank is compatible with the UK’s obligations and a safe climate doesn't add up - and we will prove it in court.
This is now a straight fight between a liveable future and oil and gas industry profits. The UK government has already admitted the decision was unlawful. They realised that approving the Rosebank oil field without taking into account the full extent of its climate impacts was unlawful. The interests of the public are not served by allowing this catastrophic oil field to go ahead. Rosebank’s owners, Norwegian state-owned oil giant, Equinor, and its partner, UK-based Ithaca Energy, have decided to defend the field. The oil and gas companies that own Rosebank are alone in trying to drive this disastrous project forward through court.
Thanks to a recent ruling of a similar case, along with the government announcing that they would not defend our court case, we have strong grounds to believe that we will win. If we do, the new government will have a chance to remake the decision and stop Rosebank for good. The key to ensuring that the government makes the right decision then is to show overwhelming public opposition to this disaster oil field and support for the court case.
This is why your backing means everything. Each new voice standing up against Rosebank builds pressure on the UK government to stop this project for good. Thank you. We’ll be in court soon, and while that happens, we need to keep making noise. Take a few minutes to:
1. Share this news on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok
2. Add your name to the court case
3. Write to your MP and ask them to sign the new Stop Rosebank Pledge. The government will also need to see cross-party opposition to Rosebank. We’re launching the MP Pledge to #StopRosebank, so they can stand with us by publicly showing their opposition. Our email tool allows you to look up your MP and send a template email in just a couple of minutes. Please give it a try!
Every voice counts in this fight. By taking action now, you're helping shape a future free from harmful fossil fuels. Thank you for standing with us.
Find out more about the court case
