Environmental groups have condemned the decision by the British government to offer more than 100 new licenses for oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the decision is entirely consistent with reaching net zero by 2050 and will boost the UK's energy independence. 

Carbon capture storage (CCS) off the coast of Scotland will also be supported as part of the plans. Sunak said granting the new licenses was "entirely consistent" with the country's net-zero commitments.

But Antony Froggatt, a senior research fellow in the Environment and Society Program at Chatham House, a leading British think tank, has questioned a move which could continue fossil fuel use for decades to come.

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"If we continue to pollute, then these impacts will get far, far worse. So we do have to take a stand – the world has agreed objectives of trying to limit global warming to around 1.5 degrees. If we continue to open up oil and gas licenses, then those targets won't be met," he said. 

Froggatt believes this is part of a bigger move away from climate friendly policies in the UK. 

"I'm afraid that seems to be the indication. And it's not just the carbon market. The UK has seen itself as been a leader in terms of climate change," he added. 

"It hosted very successfully the large international conference on climate change in 2021 COP26. But since then it seems to be rolling back on some of these things. 

"And I think as we go through to the next big climate summit in December of this year, I think the UK policies will be under a spotlight." 

And Froggatt questioned whether Downing Street have got it wrong when it comes to CCS. 

"I think in some ways it's misjudging timetables and possibilities. CCS is tested at a small scale but has never been tested on the scale that would be necessary were it to be absolutely widespread in terms of its deployment," he said.

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