'Transition, not extinction': Government sets out climate tests for future oil and gas projects

Michael Holder
clock • 7 min read
The UK's oil and gas sector has pledged to achieve net zero by 2050
Image:

The UK's oil and gas sector has pledged to achieve net zero by 2050

Proposals would see North Sea developers having to meet six net zero tests including emissions and green investment targets in order to secure extraction licenses

The government is proposing six climate tests that future UK oil and gas extraction projects would have to meet in order to secure the green light in future offshore licensing rounds, as it continued to...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Energy

Analysis: UK emissions estimated to have fallen to lowest level in 150 years

Analysis: UK emissions estimated to have fallen to lowest level in 150 years

Carbon Brief calculates UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.4 per cent last year on back of falling fossil fuel demand and rising adoption of clean technologies

Michael Holder
clock 06 March 2026 • 3 min read
Study: Moving levies off energy bills could save households up to £530 a year

Study: Moving levies off energy bills could save households up to £530 a year

Latest calls for reforms to green levy regime come as analysts warn conflict in Middle East is set to result in a 10 per cent increase in energy bills

James Murray
clock 05 March 2026 • 4 min read
Analysts warn Middle East crisis set to push up energy bills by around 10 per cent

Analysts warn Middle East crisis set to push up energy bills by around 10 per cent

Snap analysis from Cornwall Insight suggests energy price cap currently on track to rise by £160, but sustained increase in gas prices could drive still higher levels of inflation

James Murray
clock 04 March 2026 • 4 min read