Photo Credit: Stop Cambo / Facebook
Bicep, Brian Eno, Confidence Man and more than 200 musicians and artists have signed an open letter calling on UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reject plans for the controversial Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea. The letter has so far been signed by 211 figures from across the music industry, including Massive Attack, I. JORDAN, Daniel Avery, Elkka, Jon Hopkins, Eliza Rose, Midland, Romy, Nicolas Jaar, Shanti Celeste and HAAi.
Rosebank, located north-west of Shetland, is the UK’s largest undeveloped oilfield. Its future is under renewed consideration following a successful legal challenge that required the reassessment of the environmental impact of burning the extracted fossil fuels. The project has become a major test for the UK government’s climate policy, with campaigners arguing that its development would be incompatible with the country’s emissions commitments.
In their letter, the artists argue that new drilling would do little to lower household energy bills or improve the UK’s energy security, noting that much of the oil produced is expected to enter the international market. Campaigners estimate that the project could generate around 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, while the signatories also point to the growing impact of extreme weather on the live music industry and wider cultural sector.
The campaign marks the latest intervention from the music community in the long-running battle over Rosebank. Brian Eno has been particularly vocal through his environmental organisation EarthPercent, while the wider Stop Rosebank coalition says more than one million people have backed opposition to the project. A final government decision is expected to determine whether one of the UK’s most contentious fossil fuel developments moves forward.
