Thank you for trying to take action to call on Humza Yousaf to oppose the Rosebank oil field.
This action has now closed and the letter to the First Minister has been sent - see text below.
If you are resident in Scotland, you can contact your local MSPs to ask them to support the Stop Rosebank campaign
Thank you for your support of the campaign.
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Dear Humza Yousaf,
We write to you as visitors to and residents of Edinburgh during the world-famous Fringe Festival. In the past month, people have travelled to Edinburgh to experience the vibrant culture of the Fringe, which brings together a unique mixture of art, comedy, music and food. Throughout history, the arts have been vital to social movements and have been used to highlight, popularise and energise struggles. The fight for climate justice is no different, with many of the shows and performers here at the Fringe centring a climate message.
This month, we have enjoyed the city of Edinburgh and all it has to offer as it welcomes visitors from all over the world. But now we have a message for you, and for the Scottish Government. Without urgent climate action, there will be no arts, no comedy, no Fringe for future generations to enjoy.
We need to act now to avoid further climate breakdown. As a major historical polluter and the home of the North Sea oil and gas industry, the eyes of the world are on Scotland to see what your next move will be.
If the Scottish Government wants to be regarded as a true climate leader, as you claim that you are, you must do everything in your power to implement a just transition away from fossil fuels before it is too late. These deadly fuels are driving the extreme weather and devastation across the world, and the science is clear that we must stop all new extraction now for any chance at a liveable future.
Until now you have avoided taking a strong position on the future of the oil and gas industry in Scotland, or on the development of the controversial Rosebank oil field. But the time for sitting on the fence is long past, and your silence on new fossil fuels is becoming a tacit approval for these projects.
The Rosebank oil field alone would produce the equivalent CO2 emissions of the combined annual emissions of 28 low-income countries, blowing the UK’s carbon budget while doing nothing to bring down energy bills for people in the UK.
We, the undersigned, urge you and the Scottish Government to voice your strong opposition to the Rosebank project, as well as to all other new fossil fuel developments, and call on you to implement a just transition for the energy sector which has the interests of workers and communities at its heart.
You have the power to make this happen. Even though oil licensing is not a fully devolved matter, the Scottish Government still holds enormous influence both over public opinion, and the oil and gas industry. When your predecessor Nicola Sturgeon spoke out against the Cambo oil field in 2021, it didn’t take long for Shell to lose confidence in the project and pull out. You can go one step further now by clearly opposing all new fossil fuel developments and signalling that Scotland is serious about implementing a just transition.
By the next Edinburgh Fringe, Scotland could be well on its way to a future without fossil fuels. We hope that the Scottish Government will set an example for the rest of the UK and the world as it builds a new energy system to provide clean, affordable energy for all.
Thank you for your support.