Latest news with #JustTransition
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour and SNP have ‘no plan' for oil and gas workers whose jobs could disappear
Labour and SNP ministers have 'no plan' for thousands of North Sea oil and gas workers who face losing their jobs as production winds down, a damning official report has found. The Just Transition Commission said 'urgent and ambitious action' was required to manage the shift away from oil and gas or there would be 'harmful effects on workers' and the economy in the North East of Scotland. Despite the end of North Sea production being 'clearly foreseeable for decades', the report said workers in the industry feared a 'cliff edge' for their livelihoods. The commission's co-chairman warned there was a 'real risk' that North Sea workers faced the same fate as those in the coal and steel industries when their jobs disappeared. The commission said 'more needs to be done to support good quality jobs' in offshore renewable developments to help mitigate the lost of oil and gas employment but admitted that 'pay levels are lower in renewables.' The Tories said the report laid 'bare Labour and the SNP's continued betrayal of North East oil and gas workers' in their drive to achieve net zero. It was published after Harbour Energy, the UK's largest independent oil and gas producer, announced 250 job cuts in Aberdeen. The firm blamed regulation and the Chancellor's 'punitive fiscal position'. Sir Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, have come under fire over their ban on oil and gas licences to explore new fields in the North Sea. Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB union, attacked Sir Keir's 'bonkers' net zero plan and warned that there was a 'growing sense of betrayal' among North Sea oil workers. Although oil licensing in a responsibility reserved to the UK Government, SNP ministers have also adopted a presumption against further exploration in the North Sea. Douglas Lumsden, the Scottish Tories' shadow energy and net zero secretary, said: 'The Just Transition Commission could not be clearer. SNP and Labour ministers have been asleep at the wheel and have still failed to produce any future plan for oil and gas workers. 'The North East is already feeling the devastating effects of that with 250 job losses at Harbour Energy announced earlier this month.' He said the SNP and Labour were overseeing a 'demolition' rather than a 'transition' to renewables. The commission is an independent body that advises the Scottish Government on how to deliver a 'just transition' to a low-carbon economy. Its members are drawn from business, industry, trade unions, environmental and community groups and academia. They met business, community and council leaders in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray while researching the report. 'Without urgent and ambitious action, investment and Government leadership, Scotland's offshore transition will not take place fairly, with harmful effects on workers, communities, employers and the regional economy of the north east that could otherwise be avoided,' the commission said. It warned that 'there is still no transition plan for oil and gas workers', and said the transition to renewables would be 'unjust' if it was 'determined mainly by turbulent commodity prices'. 'The fragmented nature of both the fossil fuel and renewables industries makes effective planning more challenging but also more critical,' it said. 'To avoid harms to workers and communities and support new industry, governments must now take a bold, innovative approach that maximises leverage to set standards, establish pathways, create jobs, and manage shocks.' The commission said offshore renewable developments had to be 'accelerated' and the industry made 'more attractive' to workers, with 'robust minimum standards' for pay and conditions. It added that oil and gas workers need a 'credible offer' from government to retrain in green industries. Professor Dave Reay, the co-chairman of the commission, said: 'There's a real risk now that we are looking at a repeat of previous unjust transitions in coal and steel, where a lack of anticipatory planning left workers and communities abandoned at the sharp end of industrial change.' The commission will meet SNP ministers and Michael Shanks, a UK Labour energy minister, in the coming weeks to discuss its findings. Gillian Martin, the SNP's acting Net Zero Secretary, said: 'Workers are at the heart of Scotland's just transition to net zero. 'The Scottish Government is working with the energy sector to plan for a multi-skilled workforce and enable our skilled offshore workers to carry their experience and expertise into different roles as the sector evolves.' A spokesman for the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We have taken rapid steps to deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers in a fair and orderly transition as part of our Plan for Change, including by making the biggest investment in offshore wind and two first-of-a-kind carbon capture storage clusters. 'This comes alongside Great British Energy, which has already announced a £300 million investment in British supply chains, unlocking significant investment and helping to create thousands of skilled jobs, progressing our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.'
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Oil and gas workers face ‘unjust transition' with no plan
'Without urgent and ambitious action, investment and Government leadership, Scotland's offshore transition will not take place fairly, with harmful effects on workers, communities, employers and the regional economy of the north east that could otherwise be avoided,' the report said. The independent advisory body warned an unjust transition is possible despite it being known for decades that the North Sea oil and gas sector would decline. Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen told the commission they fear a 'cliff edge' for their livelihoods. Oil and gas workers face a 'cliff edge', the report warns (stock pic) (Image: ANGELA CATLIN) The report said: 'In the context of global economic volatility, the pace and sequencing of the transition will be unjust if determined mainly by turbulent commodity prices. 'The fragmented nature of both the fossil fuel and renewables industries makes effective planning more challenging, but also more critical. 'To avoid harms to workers and communities and support new industry, governments must now take a bold, innovative approach that maximises leverage to set standards, establish pathways, create jobs, and manage shocks.' The commission said more needs to be done to support jobs in the offshore renewable energy sector, including wind, decommissioning and green hydrogen – areas it said are expected to see 'rapid' growth. The expert group said: 'Renewables have a key role to play in delivering a just transition provided robust minimum standards are achieved across the industry for pay, conditions, health and safety regulation and union recognition.' It called for a 'clear plan' to be developed for building up Scotland's renewables supply chain that could help mitigate the job losses seen in the fossil fuel sector. It said oil and gas workers need a 'credible offer' from the Government to retrain in green industries. The 'Just Transition' is seeking to move on from oil and gas (Image: NQ) As well as offshore energy, the report calls on government to take forward proposals for just transition plans to cover all regions of Scotland as well as specific high-emission sites such as Mossmorran and Sullom Voe. The report was launched on Thursday in Aberdeen city centre. The Commission is an independent expert advisory group with members drawn from business, industry, trade unions, environmental and community groups and academia. READ MORE: Israeli-owned firm takes control of UK's biggest gas field Political and fiscal instability leading to 'deindustrialisation' of Aberdeen It aims to make sure the benefits and burdens of the major changes involved in Scotland's climate neutral transition are shared as fairly as possible, and is tasked by the Scottish Government with making an annual assessment of progress towards a just transition to a low carbon economy. Professor Dave Reay, co-chair of the commission, said: 'There's a real risk now that we are looking at a repeat of previous unjust transitions in coal and steel, where a lack of anticipatory planning left workers and communities abandoned at the sharp end of industrial change.' Satwat Rehman, fellow co-chair of the commission, added: 'As the role of oil and gas in the economy of the north east inevitably continues to phase down, we need our governments to work together urgently on a credible plan to support workers whose livelihoods are tied to fossil fuels, from drill crews to caterers, move into new roles.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oil and gas workers face ‘unjust transition' with no plan, commission warns
Scotland is on course for an 'unjust transition', a report has found, with the Government accused of having no plan for oil and gas workers. The Just Transition Commission said urgent action is needed to ensure the transition from fossil fuels to renewables happens fairly. 'Without urgent and ambitious action, investment and Government leadership, Scotland's offshore transition will not take place fairly, with harmful effects on workers, communities, employers and the regional economy of the north east that could otherwise be avoided,' the report said. The independent advisory body warned an unjust transition is possible despite it being known for decades that the North Sea oil and gas sector would decline. Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen told the commission they fear a 'cliff edge' for their livelihoods. The report said: 'In the context of global economic volatility, the pace and sequencing of the transition will be unjust if determined mainly by turbulent commodity prices. 'The fragmented nature of both the fossil fuel and renewables industries makes effective planning more challenging, but also more critical. 'To avoid harms to workers and communities and support new industry, governments must now take a bold, innovative approach that maximises leverage to set standards, establish pathways, create jobs, and manage shocks.' The commission said more needs to be done to support jobs in the offshore renewable energy sector, including wind, decommissioning and green hydrogen – areas it said are expected to see 'rapid' growth. The expert group said: 'Renewables have a key role to play in delivering a just transition provided robust minimum standards are achieved across the industry for pay, conditions, health and safety regulation and union recognition.' It called for a 'clear plan' to be developed for building up Scotland's renewables supply chain that could help mitigate the job losses seen in the fossil fuel sector. It said oil and gas workers need a 'credible offer' from the Government to retrain in green industries. Professor Dave Reay, co-chair of the commission, said: 'There's a real risk now that we are looking at a repeat of previous unjust transitions in coal and steel, where a lack of anticipatory planning left workers and communities abandoned at the sharp end of industrial change.' Satwat Rehman, fellow co-chair of the commission, added: 'As the role of oil and gas in the economy of the north east inevitably continues to phase down, we need our governments to work together urgently on a credible plan to support workers whose livelihoods are tied to fossil fuels, from drill crews to caterers, move into new roles. 'Their skills and experience are hugely valuable and we need a plan to make sure Scotland makes the most of them, whether in our rapidly growing clean energy sector or the wider economy.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Oil and gas workers face ‘unjust transition' with no plan, commission warns
Scotland is on course for an 'unjust transition', a report has found, with the Government accused of having no plan for oil and gas workers. The Just Transition Commission said urgent action is needed to ensure the transition from fossil fuels to renewables happens fairly. 'Without urgent and ambitious action, investment and Government leadership, Scotland's offshore transition will not take place fairly, with harmful effects on workers, communities, employers and the regional economy of the north east that could otherwise be avoided,' the report said. The independent advisory body warned an unjust transition is possible despite it being known for decades that the North Sea oil and gas sector would decline. Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen told the commission they fear a 'cliff edge' for their livelihoods. The report said: 'In the context of global economic volatility, the pace and sequencing of the transition will be unjust if determined mainly by turbulent commodity prices. 'The fragmented nature of both the fossil fuel and renewables industries makes effective planning more challenging, but also more critical. 'To avoid harms to workers and communities and support new industry, governments must now take a bold, innovative approach that maximises leverage to set standards, establish pathways, create jobs, and manage shocks.' The commission said more needs to be done to support jobs in the offshore renewable energy sector, including wind, decommissioning and green hydrogen – areas it said are expected to see 'rapid' growth. The expert group said: 'Renewables have a key role to play in delivering a just transition provided robust minimum standards are achieved across the industry for pay, conditions, health and safety regulation and union recognition.' It called for a 'clear plan' to be developed for building up Scotland's renewables supply chain that could help mitigate the job losses seen in the fossil fuel sector. It said oil and gas workers need a 'credible offer' from the Government to retrain in green industries. Professor Dave Reay, co-chair of the commission, said: 'There's a real risk now that we are looking at a repeat of previous unjust transitions in coal and steel, where a lack of anticipatory planning left workers and communities abandoned at the sharp end of industrial change.' Satwat Rehman, fellow co-chair of the commission, added: 'As the role of oil and gas in the economy of the north east inevitably continues to phase down, we need our governments to work together urgently on a credible plan to support workers whose livelihoods are tied to fossil fuels, from drill crews to caterers, move into new roles. 'Their skills and experience are hugely valuable and we need a plan to make sure Scotland makes the most of them, whether in our rapidly growing clean energy sector or the wider economy.'
Agriland
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
MEP calls for immediate reversal of rural housing restrictions
Independent Ireland MEP, Ciaran Mullooly has today (May 19) urged local authorities to immediately reverse restrictions on one-off rural housing. The MEP has warned that current planning policies are driving a deepening emergency for families and communities across Ireland and Europe. Addressing the Housing Crisis Committee, MEP Mullooly highlighted the acute challenges faced by rural homeowners, particularly in Ireland, where building a home on family land has historically been the only viable route to homeownership for people. The MEP also condemned the 'growing' trend of local people being denied planning permission after incurring prohibitive costs for reports, only to be refused the right to build on ancestral land. According to the MEP, these barriers are 'fueling a cycle of depopulation', with young people unable to return, local schools losing teachers, sports clubs folding, and vital community hubs like pubs and post offices closing. Rural housing MEP Mullooly has criticised planning systems that prioritise environmental protections, such as safeguarding bogs, over the 'survival of rural communities'. He said: 'Let me be absolutely clear, rural Ireland is not a museum. It is not to be preserved for the benefit of planning documents or biodiversity reports. 'Rural Ireland is living and breathing, but struggling to survive, impacted by decisions made in distant rooms with no links to that place.' 'So we must see the full deployment of the Just Transition fund and ERDF fund to support these local communities,' Mullooly added. The MEP has called for a balanced approach that recognises both the socio-economic and cultural benefits of one-off housing and the advances in modern environmental techniques that can address legitimate concerns. Mullooly also warned that uncertainty over future funding in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MMF) threatens to undermine vital rural development efforts. He called for full deployment of the Just Transition fund and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to empower local communities and insisted that planning must be community-led and designed by locals rather than 'imposed from distant bureaucracies'.
