UK support for Arctic oil and gas drilling incompatible with climate change targets, warn MEPs

The government must cancel support for oil and gas drilling in the Arctic if it is serious about its international commitments to protect the planet, warned MPs.

Human activity is already pushing the polar region to the edge of the chasm, while melting sea ice allows highly polluting ships to enter unspoiled habitats and nations to look at its precious natural resources.

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, and the resulting unusual weather conditions are already being felt in the UK – for example, during this year's "Beast of the East".

Despite these problems, the government has emphasized the importance of continued exploration of the Arctic by fossil fuel companies "for decades".

As the United Nations urges countries to adopt a radically more ambitious approach to reduce emissions, the Environmental Audit Committee warned that the UK position was inconsistent with its obligations under the Paris Agreement on the climate and sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

Although not technically an Arctic state, the proximity of the United Kingdom earned him a place as an observer on the Arctic Council.

In their report, MPs urged the government to use its influence on the council, which also includes the United States and Russia, to protect the wildlife and human population of the Arctic.

"There is one place in the world where the principles of sustainable development should apply, it's the Arctic," said committee chair Mary Creagh.

"The government should start by recognizing the incompatibility of its support for oil and gas development with its commitments on climate change. This can be done by setting targets in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. "

Current trends suggest that the Arctic Ocean will be free of ice during the summer as early as the 2050s. This opens up commercial opportunities for both resource extraction and cruise ships.

Oil spills and damage to sea ice are among the immediate threats to increased human presence, and the continued burning of long-buried oil and gas deposits in the Arctic will only increase global warming. Earth.

Nevertheless, changing conditions attract a great deal of foreign interest in the region. MEPs urged the government to build on the country's long tradition of research in the Arctic to discourage harmful operations in the country.

"With the interest of countries as far away as China and Singapore in the Arctic, the UK must ensure that it remains a key player in its protection," said Creagh.

"We call for increased funding for research and strengthening the UK's emission targets."

Sustainable Development Researcher Dr. Alexandra Middleton of Oulu University, consulted for the report, said, "We must stop thinking of the Arctic as a mere land of natural resources and resources. minerals ".

Rod Downie, Senior Policy Advisor, WWF, said, "It's a stark reminder that what's happening in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic.

"The UK government and businesses need to focus on sustainable development in the Arctic and a net zero goal at home – which our" Keeping it cool "report of this month has proven can be achieved by 2045.

"The time has come to pull the snow from British oil and gas companies operating the Arctic once and for all."

A government spokesman said: "Any suggestion of not committing to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement is nonsense. We do not actively promote oil and gas exploration in the Arctic.

"We decarbonized our economy faster than any other G20 country and were the first in the world to put in place legally binding targets to reduce our emissions. We are convinced that all countries must set ambitious emissions reduction targets, including in the Arctic states, and we continue to lobby at the highest level.

"The UK is a world leader in the fight against climate change, but we need to do more and look at this report carefully."