Oxfam response to the vote on the government’s Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill

In response to the vote on the government’s Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill to guarantee annual oil and gas licensing in the North Sea, Chiara Liguori, Oxfam GB's Senior Climate Justice Policy Advisor, said:

“Despite public opposition from MPs across the political spectrum, including from the government’s own party, tonight’s vote is yet another example of the UK’s dangerously hypocritical climate policy.

“The Government should not be playing politics with the future of humanity at a time when countries around the world - including the UK - are reeling from the devastating impacts of climate induced extreme weather and facing other irreversible consequences.

“Instead of expanding oil and gas extraction, the Government should be delivering on the promise it made just over a month ago at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels and increasing taxes on the biggest and richest polluters. This could help raise the funds urgently needed for a fast and fair transition towards a low carbon economy and to invest in our own abundant renewables.”

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