Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to end the licensing of new oil and gas developments in the UK.

When the UK reaches net zero in 2050, it is estimated that the UK will still use a quarter of the gas it does now, although this will be fully abated by technologies like Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage. Even with new licensing, UK production is projected to fall by 7% per year.

Instead of ending all new licensing, the Government has implemented a Climate Compatibility Checkpoint, assessing whether new licensing is compatible with the UK’s climate targets. This is a better tool for supporting the Government's climate change objectives than an arbitrary cut-off, as the checkpoint incentivises concrete decarbonisation action from industry.