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The move has been positioned as part of a drive to make Britain more energy independent, and reduce reliance on what Sunak called "foreign dictators," in the wake of a spike in energy prices after Russia's war with Ukraine.
British households suffered rising energy bills despite the UK having access to large oil and gas fields in the North Sea, while privatised energy companies raked in billions in profits.
The move has sparked fury among climate campaigners, who have accused the government of abandoning its climate pledges, and "pouring fuel on the fire while the world burns"—with wildfires and heatwaves raging across Europe and North America, and the record for the hottest day in recorded history being broken twice within the last month.
Conservative MP Chris Skidmore told The Mirror: "This is the wrong decision at precisely the wrong time, when the rest of the world is experiencing record heat waves. It is on the wrong side of a future economy that will be founded on renewable and clean industries and not fossil fuels. It is on the wrong side of modern voters who will vote with their feet at the next general election for parties that protect, and not threaten, our environment, and it is on the wrong side of history, that will not look favourably on the decision taken today.”
The government claims hundreds of new oil and gas wells are consistent with its net zero pledges. Via the North Sea Transition Authority, it has released figures claiming that domestic gas production has around one-quarter the carbon footprint of liquefied natural gas.
"Even when we’ve reached net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy
needs will come from oil and gas," Sunak said. "But there are those who would rather that it come from hostile states than from the supplies we have here at home."
However, the timing of the announcement has raised eyebrows. In the wake of a recent by-election in Uxbridge, which the Conservatives narrowly won after the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone to Greater London became a key issue in the campaign, the government has made a number of announcements designed to appeal to 'pro-car' voters in similar seats. The announcement of new oil and gas licences comes just days after Sunak announced changes to how 'low-traffic neighbourhoods' and 20mph speed limits can be introduced by local councils.
"Today’s commitment to power ahead with new oil and gas licences will drive forward our energy independence and our economy for generations, said energy security secretary Grant Shapps. "Protecting critical jobs in every region of the UK, safeguarding energy bills for British families and providing a homegrown fuel for our economy that, for domestic gas production, has around one-quarter the carbon footprint of imported liquefied natural gas."
In addition to new oil and gas licences, the government also announced investments in two carbon capture and storage projects, in Scotland and the Humber, which it says could support up to 50,000 jobs and offset some of the emissions from the new oil and gas projects, enabling the UK to maintain its net zero by 2050 target. However, carbon capture technology is still in its infancy and is yet to be proven at scale.
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