Recommendation 5

We have previously concluded in our report ‘Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies’ that there is not a consensus on the speed of transition from fossil fuels as the Government endeavours to reach net zero by 2050. While the scientific consensus is clear that planned production of fossil fuels is already enough to exceed safe climate limits, with the IPCC’s recent Synthesis Report warning that “projected CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel infrastructure without additional abatement would exceed the remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C”, there is a view from some financial institutions, recently endorsed by the UK Government, that new licences have a role to play in reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Energy security is sometimes used as justification to pursue new oil and gas exploration, but we have found that this approach may not The financial sector and the UK’s net ero transition 59 reflect climate goals effectively, as there is a risk that it may lead to either missing climate targets or ending up with stranded assets. Therefore when planning for net zero energy security and a just transition for the workforce, it is crucial that the Government considers the balance between the North Sea as a declining asset, and the UK’s capacity for renewable energy as the UK moves towards a net zero future.