This morning, BPs oil rig, that was heading back towards
land overnight, turned to go back to the oil drill site in the
North Sea where it plans to drill for 30 million barrels of oil.
Then, at 10.30am this morning, it turned for the second time and
is now heading back to land.
Greenpeace is now following the 27,000 tonne oil rig back
to land.
Greenpeace has now successfully stopped BP from drilling a
new oil well for nine days. Climate activists held the rig in
Cromarty Firth for seven days from Sunday 9 June until last
Friday. On Saturday the Arctic Sunrise arrived to pursue the oil
rig as it was towed out to sea.
Sarah North, Greenpeace International climate activist on
the Arctic Sunrise, said:
“We are determined to stop BP drilling new oil wells in the
North Sea.
“The ball is in BPs court. Will they continue with their
climate wrecking plan or wake up to the climate emergency that we
face? We’re calling on them to act with leadership by
transitioning to 100% renewable energy in response to this
escalating global crisis.
Eleven Greenpeace activists have been arrested so far, five
will appear at Tain Sheriff Court today, charged with breach of
peace. Three freelance photographers were also arrested but
subsequently released.
Despite BP claiming that its business is compatible with
the Paris climate agreement, Greenpeace argues BP’s operations
are in direct opposition to efforts to prevent catastrophic
climate change. Evidence for this
includes:
-
Despite scientists warning that existing oil and
gas reserves already exceed what we can safely burn, BP is
seeking to expand its operations in the Gulf of Mexico while
welcoming President Trump’s move to open up the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge to oil drillers;
-
BP is outspending other oil majors on efforts to
lobby against climate action. An investigation by Unearthed
revealed BP successfully lobbied the Trump administration to
weaken regulations that would have prevented the release of
millions of tonnes of the potent greenhouse gas
methane;
-
BP capital expenditure remains heavily skewed
towards fossil fuels. In 2018 it spent around $16 billion
adding to oil and gas reserves, with $500 million – just over
3% – being spent on alternatives to fossil fuels. As Bob
Dudley admitted to the Washington Post: “If someone said,
‘Here’s $10bn to invest in renewables,’ we wouldn’t know how to
do it”.
