Scientists Urge Greater Manchester Leader to Uphold Climate Pledges Amid New Oil Drilling Controversy
- Experts from the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester wrote a letter to the prime minister urging Andy Burnham to reject new oil drilling in the North Sea.
- The proposed drilling could send a message that the UK is backtracking on its climate commitments amid ongoing wildfires and heatwaves.
- Scientists emphasize the need for an 8% annual reduction in global emissions to meet Paris Agreement goals.
- Burnham, who previously championed Greater Manchester's carbon-neutral target, is now facing pressure to approve drilling projects.
Background of Burnham’s Climate Commitments
The current leader of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has made significant strides in climate action as mayor. In an earlier commitment, he unveiled one of the UK's most ambitious local climate programs that tackled housing, green growth, and public transport. This initiative aimed to make Greater Manchester carbon neutral by 2038—a target based on a comprehensive carbon budget analysis conducted with the support of leading climate scientists from the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester.
Burnham emphasized the need for greater powers than those typically held by a mayor to deliver the pace of change required to tackle the climate crisis effectively.
Call from Climate Scientists
Leading climate scientists from the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester have penned an open letter urging Andy Burnham to unequivocally reject new drilling in the North Sea. The academics expressed serious concern over reports suggesting that Burnham might approve controversial projects, which were previously granted approval under Conservative rule but are currently on hold due to ongoing legal action requiring a more detailed environmental impact assessment.
The letter emphasizes that approving such drilling would send a signal around the world that the UK was backtracking on its international climate commitments. Prof Kevin Anderson, one of the signatories of the letter, highlighted the need for consistent action with international obligations under the Paris Agreement.
Commitment to Evidentiary Principles
The scientists wrote that global temperatures have already risen to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, leading to increased extreme weather events such as wildfires and heatwaves across Europe. They emphasized the need for an immediate reduction in emissions by nearly 8% annually.
The letter stresses that Burnham’s leadership should remain steadfast, echoing his earlier commitment not to issue new oil and gas licences. The academics urge him not to cave into short-term political pressure and instead adhere to clear scientific evidence. This statement underscores the long-term accountability of policymakers in addressing climate change.
Source: The Guardian
Green News
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