Poll Shows Majority of Scots Prioritize North Sea Oil Extraction Over Net Zero Targets
A YouGov poll indicates that 51 percent of Scots view continued North Sea oil and gas extraction as more important than achieving net zero emissions by 2045. The survey, conducted among 1,217 adults in Scotland and 1,919 in England and Wales, also found 45 percent of Scots oppose a ban on new drilling licenses.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewA YouGov poll conducted in 2024 reveals that 51 percent of respondents in Scotland believe ensuring oil and gas extraction in the North Sea continues for as long as possible is more important than meeting net zero targets. In comparison, 36 percent prioritized the Scottish government's carbon targets.
Scotland has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2045, five years ahead of the UK's 2050 target.
The poll also assessed attitudes toward a potential ban on new North Sea drilling licenses. Among Scots, 45 percent opposed such a ban, while 37 percent supported it. In England and Wales, views were more divided, with 39 percent against the ban and 38 percent in favor.
The Labour Party stated during its 2024 election campaign that it would not issue new licenses for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.
This position drew opposition from the Conservative Party and Reform UK. The poll highlighted differences in support for the ban among voters of various parties, particularly between Scotland and England and Wales. Among those who voted for Labour or the Liberal Democrats in 2024, 48 percent in Scotland opposed the ban on new developments, compared to less than one-third in England and Wales.
Opposition was higher among Conservative and Reform UK voters in Scotland, at 59 percent for both groups. Additionally, 52 percent of Liberal Democrat voters, 49 percent of Labour voters, and 47 percent of Scottish National Party (SNP) voters in Scotland opposed the ban.
leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf expressed opposition to developing fields such as Jackdaw, east of Aberdeen, and Rosebank, off the coast of Shetland.
However, First Minister John Swinney recently indicated that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has increased risks to energy security, potentially altering circumstances for domestic energy production. The YouGov survey questioned 1,217 adults in Scotland and 1,919 in England and Wales to gauge these opinions.
