Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland
and Fife) (Green): The issuing of more than 100 oil
and gas licences by the UK Government is reckless and hampers the
just transition at the point when investment urgently needs to
switch to renewables. The First Minister has previously said that
the Cambo
oilfield should not be given the go ahead. Does the minister
agree that the Rosebank licence should also not be granted?
The Minister for
Environment and Land Reform (Màiri McAllan): The Scottish
Government has previously made it very clear that we do not agree
with the UK Government issuing new oil and gas licences. That is
not a viable answer to either the energy cost crisis or the
climate crisis—the answer to both of those is rapid investment in
and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
We have also made clear our view that the proposed climate
compatibility test from the UK Government is not fit for purpose
and that, before any development takes place, a robust, stringent
climate compatibility test, including both domestic and
international compatibility with the Paris agreement, should be
introduced.
On that, I ask members to consider our actions as well as our
words. The Scottish Government’s approach is best seen in such a
way because while the UK Government looks to license oil and gas,
Scotland looks to the expansion of offshore wind, as reflected in
the lease options awarded to ScotWind earlier this year.
