“We ask you to act in the interests of the public…whom are anxious about our warming world”
The proposed Rosebank oil field development could be the largest oil and gas field to hit the UK sector of the North Sea.
Not only that, but it could generate roughly 250 million tonnes of CO2 over its entire lifetime, with an estimated burning of 300 million barrels of extractable oil.
Needless to say, the UK public has not taken too kindly to the proposed development, with major protests taking place on August 17 outside the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in London.
The ones who have become the voice of the people are none other than musicians.
In an Open Letter to UK Prime Minister and avid music fan, Andy Burnham, Brian Eno has cautioned him to reject the project.
“While the impacts of the climate crisis are already hurting us all, this is what you will be remembered for.”
It wasn’t just Eno who voiced his concern, over 200 major artists have also signed the letter.
The most notable signees are Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Imogen Heap, Robert Smith of The Cure, and members of Massive Attack.
Other artists include: Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and Philip Selway, Romy Croft from XX and Olly Alexander of Years & Years.
The letter was arranged by Uplift, a UK-based climate action organisation, and publicly released by EarthPercent, a climate and nature foundation co-founded by Eno.
Eno himself shared that “continuing to expand fossil fuel production isn’t pragmatism, it’s a failure to face reality”.
In regards to Andy Burnham, he also stated “let us hope he shows that same leadership now. The right decision is clear. Reject Rosebank and invest in the clean, secure energy system we urgently need”.
Public concern isn’t the only concern that the project has faced.
The project was considered unlawful due to missing climate impact evaluations during a legal ruling.
A final government decision on whether to re-approve the field is still pending.
Hopefully Burnham’s love for music is enough to convince him to ‘Stop Rosebank’.
