Consultation: Building the North Sea’s Energy Future
Carbon Balance Initiative welcomes the opportunity to respond to the UK Government’s consultation on the North Sea Transition Deal. Our submission underscores the urgent need to align UK oil and gas policy with science and legal obligations under the Climate Change Act. We argue that the current North Sea framework lacks credible long-term measures to deliver on the UK’s 2050 net zero target.
Our Key Recommendations:
1. No new licensing extensions without alignment with net zero
Future production must be strictly conditional on evidence-based, enforceable decarbonisation plans and geological net zero compatibility.
2. Introduce producer responsibility
Fossil fuel companies should be required to deploy permanent CO₂ storage for all remaining emissions, using tools such as the Carbon Takeback Obligation (CTBO) and mandatory transition plans.
3. The NSTA’s ‘Maximising Economic Recovery’ is no longer fit for purpose, and the principal objective must be updated.
We recommend a single revised principal objective. This should be focused on managing the transition to a clean energy future in the UKCS in a manner that maximises economic benefits for the UK. This objective should recognise both the scientific reality that the UKCS is a mature, declining basin in terms of hydrocarbon resources, and the legal and policy context of the UK’s climate commitments.
4. Define transparent phaseout planning
A clear, enforceable timeline for fossil fuel decommissioning is essential to meet long-term climate goals and minimise stranded asset risks.