Brian Eno, Massive Attack and Robert Smith are among more than 100 artists who have signed an open letter to the UK government calling on them to reject plans for the Rosebank oil field.
The letter, penned by Eno and addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband, says that the UK “urgently need to phase out oil and gas drilling”, and adds that a rejection of Rosebank “would signal the government’s serious commitment to tackling the climate crisis”.
Also featured on the list of signees of the letter are Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire, Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip, Confidence Man, Drew McDowall, Candida Doyle of Pulp, Alison Cotton, HAAi, Anna Calvi, Daniel Avery, Bicep, Jon Hopkins and SHERELLE, among others.
The campaign and letter led by Eno has come at a time when Equinor, the Norwegian oil company behind Rosebank, is expected to reapply for government approval to develop the North Sea field. As the open letter states, Rosebank would emit more carbon dioxide emissions than the world’s 28 lowest income countries combined in just one year, according to information shared by the Eno-co-founded climate charity EarthPercent.
The letter says: “As musicians and artists, we know that our creativity is rooted in the world around us. But that world is under threat. Festivals are being cancelled due to extreme weather, and grassroots venues are grappling with rising energy costs. Continued oil and gas expansion jeopardises not only our climate, but the cultural spaces where music is made and shared, the natural landscapes that inspire creativity, and the livelihoods of artists and those who support them.
“The significant harm that will result from new oil and gas projects must be taken seriously, as should the economic impacts of climate change and the negligible role that new UK oil fields would play in providing the UK with reliable energy supplies.”
In his own statement, Eno said: “Fossil fuels are not only unsustainable – they are actively destructive. The evidence is clear: burning them accelerates the climate crisis, endangers our futures, and undermines the UK’s credibility as a climate leader. The Prime Minister must listen – reject Rosebank, and stop approving new oil and gas developments.”
Read the full letter here.
