Musicians Urge PM to Reject North Sea Drilling Plans
Over 200 musicians, including Massive Attack and Brian Eno, have signed a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to reject plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
The UK's music industry is speaking out against plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. More than 200 musicians, including Massive Attack and Brian Eno, have signed a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to reject the Rosebank oilfield project.
The letter, signed by 211 artists, warns that the project would fail to lower energy bills or provide energy security, as most of the oil is likely to be exported. The artists also argue that extracting fossil fuels from the UK's largest remaining untapped oilfield will accelerate climate chaos.
## Environmental Concerns
The artists are not alone in their concerns. Environmental activists argue that extracting fossil fuels from the Rosebank oilfield will have devastating consequences for the environment. Estimates suggest that Rosebank could produce over 250m tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime, equivalent to 70% of the UK's annual emissions.
The Met Office has reported that this summer in the UK is on course to be the hottest since records began, with 2026 likely to be the first year in which the country has recorded four separate days with temperatures of 36C or above. Extreme heat has driven a surge in attendance at hospital emergency departments over the summer, with more than 2.4 million patients attending each month in May, June and July - the three highest monthly totals ever recorded.
## Government Response
The government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has responded to the concerns, stating that the North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK's energy security. However, the department also acknowledges that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the energy system for decades to come, alongside transitioning to clean power to protect jobs and tackle the climate crisis.
## Campaign Group's Perspective
Suzi Shingler, of the campaign group Stop Rosebank, has expressed disappointment at the lack of response from Prime Minister Burnham on climate change. "There has been radio silence from Burnham on climate change despite heatwaves and wildfires across the UK and Europe," she said.
The artists and environmental activists are urging the government to reject the Rosebank oilfield project and prioritize the transition to clean energy. As Brian Eno said, "We are already seeing what a hotter world looks like, with record heat and devastating wildfires across Britain and Europe. At this point, continuing to expand fossil fuel production isn't pragmatism, it's a failure to face reality.
