Keep up to date with November 2022’s news with our digest of daily updated headlines about the business, regulation and campaigns around UK fracking, shale, and onshore oil and gas.

Click here for headlines from previous months. Please let us know if we’ve missed something important  contact@DrillOrDrop.com

Wednesday 30 November 2022

Fracking firm accepts criminal responsibility for contamination of ‘Gasland’ town’s water. DrillOrDrop report on a plea hearing in the criminal case against water contamination in Dimock, Pennsylvania.

Oil and gas industry leaders and government meet for discussion. The North Sea Transition Authority reports industry and political leaders met to discuss energy security, net zero and investment.

Just Stop Oil supporters disrupt traffic on London’s roads with another slow march. Just Stop Oil reported its supporters stopped traffic at 8am in Aldersgate Street in the City of London causing delays to rush hour traffic.

Giving up on 1.5C climate target would be gift to carbon boosters, says IEA head. The Guardian reports on comments by Fatih Birol, IEA executive director, that the world can still limit global heating to 1.5C. To claim the target is now out of reach is to play into the hands of fossil fuel proponents, he says.

Tuesday 29 November 2022

Sizewell C nuclear plant go-ahead confirmed with £700m public stake. PA reports the UK Government has confirmed the go-ahead for the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk, backing the scheme with a £700 million stake.

Ministers vow to block nuclear reactor plan to power refinery. The Times reports comments by officials at the Scottish government who have pledged to block any moves by Ineos to power the giant Grangemouth refinery with a nuclear reactor.

Boon for UK as Centrica hits gas storage target at Rough site. Energy Voice reports the UK government’s efforts to bolster energy security and guarantee supplies ahead of winter have been given a big shot in the arm.

Shapps says he’s confident in UK gas supplies this winter. Energy Voice reports the UK energy secretary, Grant Shapps, said he’s sure the UK will have enough gas this winter.

Onshore wind rebellion will make general election defeat worse, says Rees-Mogg as Tory splits deepen. iNews reports that Conservative splits over one of the Government’s flagship pieces of legislation deepened as the former Cabinet minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, hit out at onshore wind rebels and more MPs joined a revolt over housing targets.

Monday 28 November 2022

UK onshore oil sites continue to emit methane, research reveals. DrillOrDrop reports that the climate-damaging gas is still being released at English onshore oil sites, a year after researchers revealed the problem.

Just Stop Oil plans two weeks of protests in run up to Xmas, police warn. Energy Voice reports Just Stop Oil is beginning two weeks of action in London. Just Stop Oil press release

Want to cut your gas and electricity bills this winter? Turn your boiler down to 60C, leave radiators off in empty rooms, and draughtproof windows and doors, Britons will be told as ministers launch £1bn energy efficiency drive. The Daily Mail reports on an £18m public information campaign on energy-saving.

Insulation: £1bn funding for least efficient homes. BBC News reports that an extra £1bn will be spent to insulate the UK’s least energy efficient homes, the business secretary has said.

We’ll force Rishi Sunak to lift windfarm ban, say rebels. The Times reports Conservative rebels believe they are on the cusp of defeating the government over onshore wind and forcing Rishi Sunak to abandon a leadership campaign pledge. Also see Times editorial

Windfall tax risks ‘destroying’ North Sea production, Tory MPs warn Chancellor. Energy Voice reports that Tory MPs have told Jeremy Hunt that the windfall tax on oil and gas companies needs to be watered down to avoid an “existential threat” to the North Sea.

Onshore oil and gas: quantifying whole-site methane emissions and associated uncertainties. The Environment Agency publishes its study on methods for quantifying the amount of methane emitted from onshore oil and gas sites.

Study of ambient air quality at Preston New Road: 23 August 2017 to 11 September 2020. The Environment Agency publishes the outcome of air quality monitoring at Cuadrilla’s fracking site. It concludes that detailed statistical analysis of any well pad impacts was not possible because winds from the well pad were very infrequent and the A583 road was in the same direction so impacts were combined with traffic impacts and were too small to distinguish.

Sunday 27 November 2022

UK households have cut energy consumption by 10%, say suppliers. The Guardian reports customers have cut gas and electricity use by more than 10% since October, according to data from E.ON and Telecom Plus.

Ineos in talks with Rolls-Royce on mini-nuclear power plant technology. The Guardian reports the chemicals giant wants to produce zero-carbon electricity to power planned hydrogen systems at Grangemouth refinery

Saturday 26 November 2022

Greta Thunberg sues her native Sweden over climate crisis. The Independent reports Hundreds of activists including Greta Thunberg marched through the Swedish capital to a court Friday to file a lawsuit against the Swedish state for what they say is insufficient climate action.

Desire for net zero referendum growing among public, poll finds. The Telegraph reports the findings of a survey which found more people than ever want a referendum on the government’s net zero policy.

Friday 25 November 2022

Liz Truss and Boris Johnson join forces in headache for Sunak. Sky News reports that the former prime ministers have joined a Tory backbench rebellion against what is effectively a ban on new onshore windfarms. BBC News and Guardian

Shell Is Selling Stakes in UK North Sea Oil Fields. Bloomberg reports Shell Plc is selling its stakes in a group of North Sea oil fields, including minority stakes in two fields operated by BP.

European Parliament backs EU exit from ‘outdated’ energy charter. Upstream reports that the European Parliament has voted in favour of a European Union exit from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), paving the way for the bloc to start a process that could lead to abandoning what critics have slammed as a threat to energy transition.

Thursday 24 November 2022

Edinburgh City Council votes for an end to fossil fuel investments in Lothian Pension Fund. DrillOrDrop report

Update: “I’ll never forget chaotic vote that sank Liz Truss”. Former chief whip Wendy Morton explains what happened in the chaotic vote on fracking that led to Liz Truss’s resignation. DrillOrDrop report

UK must follow the rest of Europe and end domestic flights. Tony Lodge. writing in the Times, says “Britain is badly lagging behind the rest of Europe on phasing out domestic flights in favour of rail alternatives”.

Government energy-saving advice ‘not nannying’, says Gove. PA reports on proposals for a government public information campaign to help people save money and boost energy security.

Sir Patrick Vallance issues warning over net-zero goal. PA reports that the UK’s chief scientific adviser has issued a stark warning about the UK’s ambition to reach its 2050 net-zero goal in the fight against climate change.

More than 20,000 excess deaths were recorded in Western Europe this summer – including 3,271 in the UK, report reveals. The Daily Mail reports that England and Wales recorded 3,271 excess deaths between June 1 and September 7 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Manchester United: Who might buy the football club? BBC News reports that Jim Ratcliffe, of Ineos, is one of a few names to be regularly mentioned about a potential takeover of Manchester United.

The U.S. Shale Boom Is Officially Over. Oil Price reports that the days of explosive growth in U.S. shale oil production are over. American oil production is rising, but at a much slower pace than it did before the 2020 crash, and at lower rates than expected a few months ago.

Wednesday 23 November 2022

Angus Energy update on Saltfleetby sidetrack. Angus Energy reports that the sidetrack has reached the top of the target reservoir. Drilling has paused at 2,492 metres. The well bore will now be cased and cemented before resuming largely horizontal drilling for 500m through the reservoir.

Europa Oil & Gas exits Inezgane licence off Morocco. A formal statement from Europa tells shareholders the company has opted to relinquish the licence after time ran out to find a partner. The initial phase of the licence has ended and it has not chosen to extend it. Europa chief executive, Simon Oddie, described it as a “difficult decision”. The market appetite for offshore deep water oil exploration was “very low”, he said.

Tuesday 22 November 2022

New Atlantic alliance steps up action against oil and gas developments. Activists from countries bordering the Atlantic have formed the Equinor Out alliance to target proposed oil fields at Rosebank, of Shetland, Bay du Nord, of the Canadian coat, and the Wisting field in Norway.

BP declines to reveal how much ‘loophole’ saved it in windfall tax. The Guardian reports BP declined to reveal how much windfall tax it would have paid without an investment “loophole” when being questioned by MPs on Tuesday, while fellow energy group SSE raised concerns the levy “favours” oil and gas drilling over renewables projects.

Shell reviews £25bn UK investments plan because of windfall tax. The National reports Shell is reviewing plans to invest £25 billion in British projects after the UK government extended a windfall tax on energy companies.

Cost of living: Energy suppliers failing struggling customers – Ofgem. BBC News reports that energy firms have been failing vulnerable customers, the sector’s watchdog has said, as people face a cold and costly winter.

Britons wasting £3.1bn a year on energy because efficiency upgrades ‘too expensive’. The Independent reports UK homes and businesses are losing out on a massive £3.1bn worth of savings every year due to various barriers to implementing energy efficiency improvements.

‘I don’t see climate change as a risk, I see it as an opportunity’: Keir Starmer touts Labour’s green business plans. Business Green reports Labour leader Keir Starmer has showcased the Party’s ambitious climate policy plans to business leaders today, telling the CBI Conference in Birmingham that he views climate change as an economic opportunity, rather than a risk.”

Monday 21 November 2022

Climate activists target 13 London offices over fossil fuels ties. DrillOrDrop report

Sunday 20 November 2022

COP27: historic deal on climate loss and damage but 1.5C limit “remains on life support”. DrillOrDrop report on reaction to the final agreement at the climate talks in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

Other coverage on the COP27 final agreement. Reuters (COP27 delivers climate fund breakthrough at cost of progress on emissions); BBC News (COP27: Climate costs deal struck but no fossil fuel progress); The Times (Cop27: UN climate summit agrees ‘historic’ deal on loss and damage fund); The Guardian (World still ‘on brink of climate catastrophe’ after Cop27 deal); Washington Post (COP27 leaves world on dangerous warming path despite historic climate fund); Bloomberg (COP27 Averts Collapse as Historic Fund Resets Rich-Poor Balance); Politico (Summit yields ‘historic win’ for climate payments); New Scientist (Countries agree to create climate damage fund in historic COP27 deal)

COP27 editorials: The Times; Guardian; Independent; Daily Mail

Friday 18 November 2022

Action on IGas failure to restore Misson Springs shale gas site – council serves restoration provision breach notices. DrillorDrop report

Cop27: EU agrees to loss and damage fund to help poor countries amid climate disasters. The Guardian reports that a breakthrough looks possible in the deadlocked global climate talks as the European Union made a dramatic intervention to agree to key developing world demands on financial help for poor countries. The EU vice president, Frans Timmermans, said:

“We were reluctant about a fund, it was not our idea to have a fund. My reluctance was because I know from experience it takes time before a fund can be established, and more time before it is filled, whereas we have existing instruments. I really believe we could move faster with existing instruments [for climate finance]. But since they [the G77] are so attached to a fund, we have agreed.”

Climate emergency council faces environmental pressure before fracking decision is made. The Yorkshire Post reports a full meeting of North Yorkshire County Council saw Yorkshire and Humber Climate Change Commission, including 18 environmental groups, call on the authority to move “further and faster” over environmental issues and drop party politics to introduce measures more rapidly. A vote on fracking is now likely to be delayed until February 2023.

Thursday 17 November 2022

“Too little, too late” – reaction to the autumn statement. DrillOrDrop report on the key points of today’s budget and reaction to it. Also reports in Financial Times, Guardian, Times, Bloomberg, Guardian editorial

Reabold shareholders stick with company’s board. DrillOrDrop report

Calls for East Sussex County Council to adopt policy of opposing fracking. The Sussex Express reports on an amended motion on fracking due to be considered by a future full meeting of East Sussex County Council.

Significant back-to-back earthquakes in northern B.C. ‘very likely’ caused by fracking: federal expert. CBC News reports 4.6 and 4.7 magnitude quakes near Fort St John in British Columbia were recorded just a kilometre and four days apart.

Massive methane leak in Cambria County remains uncontrolled at natural gas storage field. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports a gas storage well in Cambria County has been leaking for 10 days, blanketing nearby mountains with the smell of hydrocarbons. The leak could be around 100 million cubic feet a day. The problem was first notoiced on 6 November 2022 and remains unsolved.

COP27: UN chief warns of ‘breakdown in trust’ with no deal in sight at Cop27. The Guardian reports with one one full day of official talks left, there are no clear agreements on key issues including funding for loss and damage.

COP27: Summit gets chaotic with mysterious draft text and elusive president. Bloomberg reports that delegates in Sharm e-Sheikh vent their frustration at the slow advance of UN-sponsored negotiations in Egypt.

COP27: UK, EU and Canada meet COP27 presidency, say talks can’t fail. Reuters reports a delegation from Britain, the European Union and Canada met the COP27 president on Thursday to highlight gaps in the current negotiating texts and express their view that the round of global climate talks in Egypt should not be allowed to fail.

COP27: Climate talks hit ‘breakdown’ over finance, fossil fuels as time dwindles. The Washington Post reports the fate of U.N. climate talks in Egypt appeared in jeopardy Thursday as rich and poor nations continued to disagree on an array of issues, including compensation for harms caused by a warming world.

COP27: China Has Plan to Curb Methane Emissions in Sign of Progress. Bloomberg reports China said it has developed a draft plan to curb methane emissions, even as it stopped short of joining a global pledge to reduce the potent greenhouse gas.

COP27: Tactical demand to phase down fossil fuels is dropped ahead of final agreement. The Independent reports that India’s demand to “phase down all fossil fuels” has been dropped from an early draft. The paper quotes Frans Timmerman – vice president of the European Commission:

“We are in support of any call to phase down all fossil fuels, but we also have to make sure that this call does not diminish the earlier agreement we had on phasing down coal.”

Wednesday 16 November 2022

COP27: India draws support for wider climate target than coal alone. The FT reports that India is gathering support for a proposal for countries at COP27 to agree to “phase down” all fossil fuels. This would be instead of the narrower decision to phase down coal agreed at COP26 last year.

COP27: Oil and gas industry on brink of major surge in expansion – new drilling plans approved through 2025 could exhaust 17% of the global carbon budget for 1.5°C. A briefing by Oil Change International reveals that new oil and gas production approved to date in 2022 and at risk of approval over the next three years could cumulatively cause 70 billion tonnes (Gt) of new carbon pollution if fully developed. This is equivalent to almost two years’ worth of global carbon emissions from energy at current levels, it says.

Energy efficiency can drive economic growth. Former energy secretary, Andrea Leadsom, writing in The Times, says we need to think not just about supply of energy but demand too. She says there is one “low hanging fruit” – more efficient use of energy, that could make the economy more productive and boost economic activity.

How UK households could safe £10bn a year by making homes more energy efficient. The FT reports on a study which found 13 million properties in England and Wales that could have insulation installed and boilers upgraded at a cost of £65bn. This would slash bills and reduce dependence on foreign energy producers.

Buying fracked gas shows Rishi Sunak’s failure to exploit our own reserves – Yorkshire Post Letters. Dick Lindley, writing to the Yorkshire Post, described a deal to buy fracked gas from the US as “economic fiscal insanity”.

Tuesday 15 November 2022

Government dismisses call to make fracking moratorium U-turn proof. DrillOrDrop report on parliamentary debate on fracking and local consent. Independent, Politics.co.uk

The Guardian view on Cop27: this is no time for apathy or complacency. The Guardian editorial, along with 30+ media organisations, called for action from world leaders on the climate crisis. They call for a climate tax on fossil fuel giants.

Stupid’ to equate climate concerns with being woke, says Zac Goldsmith. The Conservative minister, Zac Goldsmith, said rightwing Tory MPs should stop portraying concerns about the climate and nature as “woke” and understand that voters are deeply concerned about the crises, reports the Guardian.

‘Back Off’: African Climate Groups Decry Europe’s Dash for Gas at COP27 . DeSmog reports a warning from campaigners that a race by German and Italian companies to secure new sources of natural gas in the wake of the Ukraine invasion risks harming Africa’s clean energy transition.

My suffragette grandmothers are now seen as heroes. Today’s climate protesters will be too. Helen Pankhurst, writing in the Guardian, says “whether or not you agree with their tactics, activists blocking roads and stopping traffic are on the right side of history.

Boris Johnson’s ex-PR guru lands role at fracking giant. Byline Times reports Ed Barker, who has managed public relations for Conservative Party organisations and Boris Johnson, is now advising the shale gas company, Cuadrilla Resources.

UK North Sea operators push back against windfall tax hike. Upstream reports that the North Sea oil and gas industry has warned that an additional 10% levy on profits would quash project investment and delay the energy transition.

Calls to close oil and gas windfall tax ‘loophole’ at Autumn Statement. The Mirror reports the Lib Dems have discovered the Conservatives don’t know how much tax is being legally avoided by fossil fuel companies using the system designed by the government.

Monday 14 November 2022

Revenue quadruples at Europa Oil & Gas thanks to Wressle. DrillOrDrop report on Europa’s annual accounts

Latest onshore oil production – August 2022. DrillOrDrop review of latest onshore oil production data.

COP27 considers ‘loss and damage’ fund, but has yet to commit – draft text. Reuters reports the United Nationspublished a draft text setting out what the COP27 climate summit could agree on “loss and damage” financing for countries ravaged by climate impacts.

Wind farms chief issues warning on energy profits levy. The Times reports that the boss of one of Britain’s biggest green energy companies has warned that it will “reconsider” its investment plans if the government imposes a windfall tax that it regards as unfair on renewable power generation.

Sunday 13 November 2022

Carbon Brief analysis of COP27 draft texts. Simon Evans tracks changes to the climate negotiations.

Friday 11 November 2022

COP27: Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels hit record high in 2022. Carbon Brief and the Guardian report on estimates from the Global Carbon Project that global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement have increased by 1.0% in 2022, hitting a new record high of 36.6bn tonnes of CO2 (GtCO2). The estimates in the 2022 Global Carbon Budget suggest the increase in fossil emissions has been primarily driven by a strong increase in oil emissions as global travel continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.  Also reported by  Press Association,  Independent, New Scientist, Forbes, Bloomberg and New York Times

COP27: Countries set out 12-mth plan to speed up industry emission cuts. Reuters reports countries representing more than half of the global economy have specified the steps they will take to help accelerate the low-carbon transition by cutting emissions in sectors including power, transport and steel.

COP27: U.N. to hunt sources of climate-warming methane from space. Reuters reports the UN Environment Programme will launch a public database of global methane leaks detected by space satellites – part of a new program to encourage companies and governments to curb emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas.

Just Stop Oil activists halt M25 protests after days of widespread disruption. Just Stop Oil says it is halting its protests on the M25. It said it was giving time to government to “consider their responsibilities to this country at this time”.

Thursday 10 November 2022

Fracking moratorium is a “betrayal of shale gas industry”– Cuadrilla’s Australian owner, AJ Lucas. DrillOrDrop report on AJ Lucas annual meeting.

Boxer backs board change at West Newton drilling company. DrillOrDrop report on moves to oust directors at Reabold Resources

COP27: Global dash for gas threatens climate goals”. DrillOrDrop report, Guardian and Reuters. Climate Action Tracker briefing

COP27: Sharp rise in fossil fuel industry delegates at climate summit. BBC News reports analysis by Global Witness which found the number of delegates with links to fossil fuels at the UN climate summit has jumped 25% from the last meeting in Glasgow. The organisation found more than 600 people at the talks in Egypt had links to fossil fuels – that is more than the combined delegations from the 10 most climate-impacted countries.

World’s biggest carmakers to build 400m more vehicles than 1.5C climate target will allow. The Guardian reports on research which found that world’s biggest carmakers plan to build about 400m more diesel and petrol cars than what is sustainable to contain global heating.

Equinor postpones investment decision in Wisting oil field. Price of Oil reports Equinor said it would reconsider the project off Norway until 2026.

Stronger profits at British Gas owner fuel £250m share buyback. The Guardian reports the British Gas owner Centrica has revealed plans to hand more money back to shareholders, as stronger profits from high electricity and gas prices help offset poor performance of its retail arm.

Wednesday 9 November 2022

COP27: Thousands expected to march for climate justice in global day of action. DrillOrDrop report

COP27: Oil and gas greenhouse emissions ‘three times higher’ than producers claim. The Guardian reports on a new study by Climate Trace, a project to measure at source the true levels of carbon dioxide and other global heating gases. It showed that half of the 50 largest sources of greenhouse gases in the world were oil and gas fields and production facilities. Many are underreporting their emissions, the study found.

COP27: China announces plan to curb rising methane emissions but challenges await. Reuters reports that China has drafted a new plan to control methane and will promote new technologies and financing mechanisms to slash rising emissions of the greenhouse gas that traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide, the country’s top climate official said.

Government urged to fund £1,000 grants for green re-fitting of homes. The Press Association reports that the Scottish Future thinktank has urged the UK government to o fund grants of £1,000 per person to help with re-fitting homes and businesses to deal with the energy crisis.

Boost energy-saving advice to households to curb winter bills, Government told. The Press Association also reports a letter from the Climate Change Committee to the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, which says reducing energy demand is the “biggest gap” in the government’s energy policy. Also reported by Business Green and the Independent

Reabold bosses pledge to ‘start addressing’ low share price ahead of crunch vote. Energy Voice reports that bosses at Reabold Resources have pleaded with shareholders to “stick with” them ahead of a crunch vote next week.

Industry body slams UK-US LNG deal following fracking snub. CityAm reports comments from the UK shale gas lobbying group, UK Onshore Oil & Gas, which criticised the government’s decision to chase a long-term deal for liquified natural gas from the US

Stop Rosebank campaigner confronts Sturgeon at COP27. Energy Voice reports that Scotland’s first minister was confronted about approval of the Rosebank oil field, currently being considered by the UK government. The filmed encounter is on Twitter. Friends of the Earth Scotland accused Ms Sturgeon of avoiding giving a straight answer. Also reported by the Press Association

“We’re not in a climate crisis”: David Frost joins think tank that disputes global heating. The Independent reports that the former Brexit minister, David Frost, has joined the Global Warming Policy Foundation, declaring “We’re not in a climate emergency”.

Police are told to end eco mob rule: Suella Braverman orders officers to ‘stop humouring’ environmental activists after a day of protest in which Just Stop Oil campaigners brought chaos to M25 and XR member hurled eggs at the King. Daily Mail report

Tuesday 8 November 2022

Egdon reports 530% increase in oil and gas revenues. DrillOrDrop report

Just Stop Oil protesters charged after M25 blocked for second day. Sky News reports that a total of 24 people have been charged in relation to protests on Monday and Tuesday. ITV reports that campaigners have warned of further disruption to drivers on the M25.

COP27 – Corporate climate pledges rife with greenwashing – U.N. expert group. Reuters reports on the findings of UN experts that promises by companies, banks and cities to achieve net-zero emissions often amount to little more than greenwashing. Also reported by the Independent and Wall Street Journal

COP27: Tuvalu first to call for fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty at Cop27. The Guardian, AP and CNBC report the call by Tuvalu in the South Pacific, for a global treaty to phase out the use of fossil fuels.

COP27: New Global Adaptation Agenda aims to establish climate resilience goals. Business Green reports the COP27 Presidency has today launched a new global plan that aims to mobilise state and non-state actors behind a shared set of climate adaptation goals for 2030 that span food and agriculture, water and nature, coasts and oceans, infrastructure, and human livelihoods.

COP27: Mexico will try to ‘deceive the world’ at Cop27, experts warn. The Guardian reports a warning that Mexico, one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, is expected to announce a hotchpot of old, inadequate and undeliverable climate pledges that will leave its Paris pledges in tatters.

COP27: No ‘free pass’: Antigua and Barbuda PM tells Cop27 India and China must pay for loss and damage. The Independent and Reuters report comments from the alliance of small island states that India and China must pay climate compensations alongside other major polluters.

Monday 7 November 2022

COP27: Rishi Sunak criticised for government plans to expand North Sea oil and gas extraction, while promoting renewable energy at the COP27 climate talks. DrillOrDrop report

COP27: Oil and gas firms “expected” to pay towards climate loss and damage – Mia Mottley. DrillOrDrop report

COP27: “Dash for gas is a dash down a bridge to nowhere” – Al Gore. DrillOrDrop report

COP27: UN secretary general calls for windfall tax on fossil fuel companies. DrillOrDrop report

COP27: Boris Johnson criticises net zero sceptics who want to “frack the hell out of the British countryside”. DrillOrDrop report

More COP27 headlines

COP27: UN launches plans for an early warning system for climate change. The UN says it will cost just 50 center per person per year for the next five years to reach everyone on earth with early warnings against extreme and dangerous weather. Link to press release

UK announces major new package of climate support at COP27. The UK government announces what it calls a “major international climate package” to deliver on the UK’s Glasgow legacy at COP27.

Shapps explains why Sunak will be at COP 27. Energy Voice reports comments by the business secretary, Grant Shapps, that Rishi Sunak can attend COP27 because of the “vast amount” of work completed on the forthcoming autumn budget.

Sturgeon calls for ‘meaningful steps’ at COP 27. Energy Voice reports Scotland’s first minister has called for world leaders to take “meaningful steps towards the goals agreed at COP26 in Glasgow.

Other news

July 2022 onshore oil production data: Daily production falls at Wytch Farm to the lowest level for 10 years and the Gatwick Gusher slows to a trickle. DrillOrDrop report

Just Stop Oil disrupts M25 in multiple locations. Just Stop Oil reports supporters climbed onto motorway gantries in a least six locations on the M25. The group said it warned National Highways and the Metropolitan Police the night before of likely major disruption.

Sunday 6 November 2022

Fracking firms plan £1bn legal fight over ban after Government suddenly changed mind on shale gas extraction. This is Money reports the fracking industry is exploring a mammoth legal challenge of between £500m-£1bn against the government over the lifting of the moratorium. Companies are considering launching one or multiple cases.

Joe Biden’s climate envoy warns UK against North Sea oil and gas expansion. The Independent reports comments by John Kerry who has questioned UK plans to expand North Sea oil and gas production, warning it will not solve the energy crisis.

COP27: Alok Sharma opens the climate talks in Egypt and hands over presidency. In his opening speech he says:

“we need to accelerate that progress in the remainder of this decisive decade. But I believe fundamentally that we can. We know what we need to do to keep 1.5 degrees alive. We know how to do it.”

COP27: ‘Climate chaos’ warning as UN summit begins. BBC News reports comments by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, that the planet was “sending a distress signal”. The COP27 president, Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, urged leaders not to let food and energy crises get in the way of climate chnage.

Saturday 5 November 2022

Rishi Sunak is a fossil fuel prime minister in a renewable age. Labour’s leader, Keir Starmer, writing in the Observer, says the answer to climate change and cost-of-living crises is “adopting cheap, clean, homegrown power as fast as we can”.

Labour Facebook ads attack red wall Tory MPs in drive to swing voters. The Observer reports red wall Tory MPs are being targeted by Labour attack ads over their failure to support a ban on fracking.

Oil and gas investment outfit Reabold Resources feels heat in bid to oust the board. This is Money reports on an attempt by minority shareholders to overthrow the board of oil and gas investment company, Reabold Resources, has been weakened after an influential advisory firm sided with Reabold.

Friday 4 November 2022

Fracking moratorium – a timeline. DrillOrDrop review of the events that led to the 2019 moratorium – introduced formally three years ago today – its brief lifting and the latest U-turn

Fracking opposition motion backed by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council. Northern Ireland World reports on a debate by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (Monday 31 October).

Thursday 3 November 2022

A mining nation afraid of fracking or a disaster waiting to happen? The Daily Post asks whether fracking could benefit Wales.

Rishi Sunak prepares big windfall tax grab from energy firms. The Times reports that Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are planning windfall taxes on oil and gas companies to raise an estimated £40 billion over five years.

UK’s largest oil and gas producer warns against tougher windfall tax. The Guardian reports comments by Harbour Energy, which says higher levy and extended timeline will deter investment despite profits bonanza. Also reported by the Herald, Surrey Live (8/11/22)

Analysis: EU’s CO2 emissions fall 5% in three months after post-Covid surge. CarbonBrief reports on data from a new near-real-time emissions tracker developed by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. It shows the recent fall in emissions has brought to an end a a6-month surge that began in the wake of the covid pandemic.

Wednesday 2 November 2022

Government fails to lead the way to net zero emissions – MPs. DrillOrDrop report

Rishi Sunak is now going to the COP27 climate summit. reports the prime minister has reversed an earlier decision not to go to the COP27 climate talks in Egypt. Press Association, BBC News, Politico, Guardian

Cumbria coalmine decision delayed until after COP27. BBC News reports that the decision on whether to go ahead with a new coal mine in Cumbria has been delayed for a third time. The decision had been expected by 8 November. But the Department of Levelling up said it would not be made ” on or before 8 December 2022″. Press Association

Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent: UN. Axios.com reports that temperatures in Europe are increasing twice as fast as in any other continent, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.

Who wants what at the COP27 climate change summit. CarbonBrief reports on the priority issues for various parties attending the summit.

Tuesday 1 November 2022

Tributes paid to former MEP Keith Taylor. DrillOrDrop report

Report for Mr Speaker: investigation into events outside the “No” lobby on 19 October. A report for the Commons speaker concluded that “evidence as a whole” did not support allegations of the use of physical contact to compel a member into the No lobby during a vote about fracking. It also said:

“The crowded nature of the Lobby would have made it very difficult for any Member to have a full view of what was taking place”

Updated DrillOrDrop report, BBC, Independent, Sky News