The government is about to rubber-stamp the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen, which is funny because we are supposedly living through a climate emergency. Funny like a mortgage-sized hole in your roof is funny.
Here’s the thing: we spent the last decade hearing about net zero targets, climate commitments, and how seriously everyone takes the whole melting-planet situation. Then, when it comes time to actually say no to a new fossil fuel project, the government approves it anyway. The cognitive dissonance is so loud you could power a small nation with it.
The Jackdaw field will pump gas for decades. That gas will be burned. The carbon will go into the atmosphere. And somewhere, a climate scientist is updating their “I told you so” spreadsheet for the 47th time this year.
The government’s position appears to be that approving new gas fields is compatible with climate goals because, technically, the gas will be produced domestically instead of imported. This is the energy policy equivalent of switching to low-tar cigarettes and calling it a health victory. Sure, you’re smoking slightly less poison, but you’re still smoking poison.
So here’s what this means: if you are waiting for government policy to actually reflect climate urgency, keep waiting. The Jackdaw approval is just the latest reminder that fossil fuel infrastructure still wins against future planetary stability. At least it’s consistent.