A legal challenge that could stop the giant Cambo oil field west of Shetland going ahead is being launched in Scotland’s highest court.
In a move to embarrass Boris Johnson just two months before it hosts global climate talks in Glasgow, Greenpeace will demand the UK Government revoke permits to drill in another North Sea oil field.
The legal case against BP's Vorlich oil field, a 30 million barrel development located around 150 miles off Aberdeen, is being heard on Wednesday.
It is the first time an offshore oil permit has ever been challenged in court and if the case is successful Greenpeace say it will stop the Cambo field in its tracks.
The controversial Cambo field, which has a potential 800 million barrels of oil, has become the focus of the climate change debate in Scotland.
The oil field, situated 75 miles to the west of Shetland in water over 1,000m deep, is operated by permit holder Siccar Point under a longstanding licence from the UK government granting permission to search for oil and gas in the area.
Opponents say the Cambo oil field would release so much carbon dioxide it would require land the size of Scotland to offset it.
Environmental campaigners have said granting new licences would send the wrong message in the same year as the COP26 climate conference is held in Glasgow.
Nicola Sturgeon is feeling pressure from campaigners and her new Green Ministers to oppose the development
She has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to reassess the development in light of the “the severity of the climate emergency”.
But Alba party leader Alex Salmond took a swipe at his former SNP colleague and Greens accusing them of indulging in “student politics masquerading as coalition building” on fossil fuels.
Labour's Keir Starmer has said there has said the Cambo field should not get the go-ahead and called for a “hard-edged” timetable to end oil and gas exploration but Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a visit to Scotland said existing contracts should not be "ripped up".
If Greenpeace wins the court battle against the Vorlich development it could have huge ramifications for how the UK government makes future oil permit decisions.
Mel Evans, head of oil and gas transition at Greenpeace UK, said: “It’s outrageous that the UK government routinely rubber stamps oil permits - like this one and the proposed permit for Cambo - while completely ignoring the climate impact, which causes extreme weather and deaths.”
“We hope the judge will agree that legally this cannot be allowed to happen. It makes no sense for the government to overlook the most harmful consequences of oil and gas when making these decisions.”
Evans added: “We are two months away from hosting global climate talks, and we’re at code red for humanity. BP’s permit must be revoked, and Cambo must be stopped. By setting a clear path to phasedown oil and gas the UK government must then properly support workers and communities through the energy transition.”
