PM urged to uphold climate pledges made as mayor and ban new North Sea oil drilling

Climate scientists who helped craft Greater Manchester's pledge to be carbon neutral by 2038 are calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reject new oil drilling in the North Sea. They argue that abandoning such commitments would send a damaging message, especially as the world grapples with intensifying heatwaves and wildfires.

In a letter to the prime minister, the experts highlighted Burnham's past leadership as mayor of Greater Manchester. During his tenure, he launched a significant local climate initiative focused on housing, green growth, and public transport. The scientists believe upholding these ambitious goals is crucial.

The appeal comes at a time of heightened global concern over climate change. The scientists emphasize that a failure to act decisively on fossil fuel extraction would contradict the urgency required to address the escalating climate crisis. They are urging a clear stance against further oil exploration.

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he, as previous mayor of Greater Manchester, had unveiled one of the UK’s most ambitious local climate programmes that tackled housing, green growth and public transport.