Hundreds of people are expected to join marches across the UK this weekend as part of a global call for a rapid phase out of fossil fuels.
The UK actions will focus on government policy to “max out” North Sea oil and gas reserves, despite warnings that new drilling is incompatible with limiting temperature rise to habitable levels.
Earlier this year, the prime minister announced plans for at least 100 new offshore licences and possibly many more. He also hinted at approval for the controversial Rosebank oil field west of Shetland.
Action is also planned outside Labour central and constituency offices in Ashton-under-Lyne, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leeds, London, Nottingham, Oxford and Swansea
The weekend follows a new United Nations warning that achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions requires the phasing out of fall unabated fossil fuels.
Also this week, a report by Oil Change International found that the UK, together with the US, Canada, Australia and Norway, are responsible for 51% of all planned expansion from new oil and gas fields up to 2050.
Stop Rosebank campaigner, Lauren MacDonald, said:
“We are now watching the climate crisis unfold, whether its rising temperatures and wildfires or the heating up of our seas, and yet our government is choosing to throw more fuel on the fire.
“We know – and they know – there can be no new drilling if we want a habitable world and yet they are issuing new licences and considering approving the massive Rosebank oil field, which would create more CO2 emissions than 28 of the poorest countries produce in a year combined.
“Rishi Sunak needs to stop bowing to the demands of the oil and gas companies that are raking in obscene profits while millions in this country can’t afford to heat their homes.
“Unlike cheaper renewable energy, new oil and gas fields will not lower bills, it just keeps the industry’s obscene profits flowing.
“Climate leadership today means standing up to this profiteering and stopping all new drilling. Anything less is simply not good enough. Fossil fuels are the biggest contributor to the climate crisis yet they’re the one thing governments have so far resisted acting on.”
Events
More than 30 events over three days are planned throughout the UK. Across the world, more than 400 demonstrations are expected, including Cape Town, Tokyo, Karachi and New York.
Friday 15 September
Ashton-under-Lyne: Action outside the offices of Labour deputy leader, Angela Rayler MP, Ashton Market Hall, Market Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7JU, 10am-12 noon
Bradford: Fossil Free vigil, outside West Yorkshire Pension Fund, 4 Godwin Street, Bradford BD1 2ST, 12 noon-2pm
Bristol: Action outside the offices of Labour’s Thangham Debbonaire MP, College Green, College Street, Bristol BS1 5TR, 10am-12 noon
Cardiff: Action outside the offices of Jo Stevens MP, The Globe Centre, Wellfield Road, Cardiff CF24 3PE, 4pm-6pm
Edinburgh: Action outside the offices of Labour’s Ian Murray, Minto Street, Edinburgh EH9 2BT, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Exeter: Action outside the offices of Labour’s Ben Bradshaw, Bedford Square, Bedford Street, Exeter EX1 1LR, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Glasgow: Art workshop and singing let by Divest Strathclyde, Quaker Meeting House, 38 Elmbank Crescent, Glasgow G2 4PS, 6pm-8pm
Glastonbury Tor: Dusk No New Oil message to prime minister, Wellhouse Lane, Glastonbury BA6 8BJ, 6pm-8pm
Leeds: Action outside the office of shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, 8a Bramley Centre, Bramley, Leeds LS13 2ET, 12 noon-2pm
London: Action outside the Labour Party headquarters, 160 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8EZ, 5.30pm-7.30pm
London: Action outside offices of Labour’s Helen Hayes MP, 264 Rosendale Road, London SE24 9DL, 5.30pm-7.30pm
Manchester: Action calling for the insurer Chubb to not insure the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline, Chubb, Abbey House, M2 4AB, from 8-11am
Manchester: Vigil for lives lost to climate breakdown and call for Greater Manchester Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuels, Guardsman Tony Downes House, GMPF headquarters, Droylsden, Manchester M43 7UH, 9.30am-11.30am
Norwich: Protest against continued investment in fossil fuels by Barclays Bank, outside Barclays Bank, Red Lion Street, Norwich NR1 3QH, 10am-12 noon
Nottingham: Action outside offices of Alex Norris MP, Main Street, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8QD, 3.30pm-5.30pm
Oxford: Action outside the offices of Labour’s Annelise Dodds MP, Unit A, Bishops Mews, Transport Way, Cowley, Oxford OX4 6HD, 1pm-3pm
Swansea: Action outside offices of Carolyn Harris MP, 485 Llangyfelach Road, Brynhyfryd, Swansea SA4 9EA, 2pm-4pm
Ullapool: Meeting at the Clock Tower, Ullapool, 9am to demand an end to reliance on fossil fuels
Wrexham: March to protest about HSBC’s funding of fossil fuels, gather at Miners’ Statue, Lord Street, Wrexham and march to HSBC bank, Regent Street, Wrexham LL11 1RN, 11am-1pm
Saturday 16 September
Edinburgh: march to The Mound 11am- 1pm
Leeds: Rally for just transition phase out of fossil fuels, Briggate, Leeds LS1 6HF, 12 noon-2pm
Leicester: Parents for Future Leicestershire meeting outside offices of Alberto Costa MP, Unit 3, 8a Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4DN, 12.30pm-2.30pm
London: March to Parliament. Gather at 12 noon at Grosvenor Gardens, near Victoria Station, London, followed by march, 12 noon-2pm
Oxford: Outreach stall by No New Oil and Mothers Rebellion, Cornmarket, Cornmarket Street, Oxford OX1 3HL, 1pm-3pm
Plymouth: Rally at Guildhall Square, Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 1DA, 12-2pm
Wimborne: XR action against fossil fuels on the High Street, Wimborne, Dorset, from 10.30-12.30pm
Sunday 17 September
Bournemouth: March from Pier Approach to Boscombe Pier at 11am, followed by a rally until 1pm
Brighton: Mothers Rebellion action, outside Jubilee Library, Jubilee Square, Brighton BN1 1GE, 12:30pm-2pm
Cambridge: Protest Picnic, The Mill Pond, King’s Parade, Upper Flat, Cambridge CB2 1SJ, 4pm-6pm
Ilkley: Care-Free Festival, The Grove, Ilkley, 11am-4pm
London: Mothers’ Rebellion protest outside the Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD, 11.30am-1.30pm
London: Protest song concert, Glengall Wharf Garden, 64 Glengall Road, London SE15 6NH, 6pm-8pm
South Shields: Mothers’ Rebellion Circle raising awareness of Divest Tyne and Wear campaign, South Shields Town Hall, South Tyneside NE33 2RL, 11am-1pm
Wimborne: Upside Down action by XR Wimbourne’s Pink Rebels, High Street, Wimborne, 10.30am-12.30pm
York: Mothers’ Rebellion peaceful protest, outside south entrance of York Minister, 11am
Categories: Opposition, slider
DRILL OR DROP? 
Jack, I see you’ve bought the “Fracking is dangerous” myth. The truth is that it’s no more dangerous than say mining or construction. If it’s done in accordance with the regulations there is little chance of harm. We have huge reserves of gas under our feet. Some say up to 300 years worth. Surely it would be better to tap these resources with proper monitoring in place to ensure environmental safety while increasing our knowledge of the process. The British Geological Society advocate this approach. It appears to me that the people who oppose it are using emotion rather than science to prevent it happening. These are the same people who seem hell-bent on damaging our standard of living.
If 15-minute cities are about convenience, why have fines for leaving them and why constrain movement between them?
If electric vehicles (EVs) will be better, why subsidise them and why ban combustion engine cars?
If there are enough minerals and resources to produce enough EVs, why propose rationing the ownership of EVs?
If weather-dependent power sources are needed due to climate change and are suitable for powering a grid, why pay people to use less electricity at certain times?
If the intermittency of renewables won’t be an issue, why ask people to avoid charging their cars at certain times?
If the electrification of heating is a good idea, why is the Climate Change Committee requesting that people refrain from heating their homes in the evening (when it gets cold)?
If heat pumps are great, why ban the alternatives that are only needed when heat pumps fail?
If wind energy is so cheap, why did nobody show up to the government’s wind energy auction?
If electricity will be cheaper than gas under renewables, why ban gas stoves? Why are our power bills going up as renewables grow as a share of our power source?
If renewables are better than fossil fuels, why do fossil fuels need to be phased out by government policies?
If energy storage will solve the intermittency of renewables, why do we need smart appliances that can be controlled to determine when they are usable and when they are not?
To sum up, if renewables are as cheap, abundant and efficient as claimed, why must we radically overhaul our lives in ways that make them worse? Why must governments ask us to cut our standard of living if the energy transition they promised us is going to work?
Because it’s not just about money, it’s about the impact of burning these fossil fuels on our environment that is making them unliveable.
Rachel are you aware that China is opening 2 new coal fired power stations EVERY week ? Our UK emissions in comparison are of no consequence.
Just look at the businesses in your own town that are closing because people don’t have the disposable income they used to have. This primarily is because our energy prices are not affordable. The simple truth is that low energy prices drive prosperity and high energy prices drive poverty. Net zero is being used as a way to drive up energy prices and force us into economic bankruptcy.