UK environment groups call on John Prescott to halt Atlantic

coral reef

Britain's leading environment and conservation groups are calling on John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, to prevent further oil exploration in the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Hebrides (the 'Atlantic Frontier'). The joint letter comes from the following organisations:

Environmental Investigation Agency
Friends of the Earth England and Wales
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Greenpeace
Marine Conservation Society
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The Wildlife Trusts
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

In the letter, the organisations ask the Deputy Prime Minister to end oil drilling in the Atlantic Frontier on the grounds that it is damaging to marine wildlife, bad for the climate and has little economic justification.

Writing to John Prescott, the groups said:
"These wells should not be drilled. You are one of the few people who can prevent this haven for whales, dolphins, seabirds and coral reefs being needlessly scarred by oil explorationFar from being in the national interest, this destructive drilling is totally unnecessary as none of the oil found can safely be used as fuel. Your recent climate strategy made clear that a major shift away from fossil fuels is required to cut CO2 emissions by as much as 90%."

The Atlantic Frontier has been described as a "whale motorway" for migrating species, and has also been revealed as an important breeding and feeding ground for many whales and dolphins. Some 21 species of whale and dolphin are found there including endangered blue and fin whales and vulnerable sperm and humpback whales.

A copy of the letter is as follows:
Rt Hon John Prescott MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions
Eland House
Bressenden Place, London SW1
27 March 2000

Dear Deputy Prime Minister,
As Secretary of State for the Environment you have been an effective champion of environmental issues and have made real advances in climate protection and marine pollution. Some of this good work is about to be undone by the Department of Trade and Industry. With their consent, three new oil wells - the first wave of development - are about to be drilled in the pristine Atlantic Ocean west of Scotland.
These wells should not be drilled. You are one of the few people who can prevent this haven for whales, dolphins, seabirds and coral reefs being needlessly scarred by oil exploration.
As a result of a High Court ruling last November, all UK oil licensing is illegal until appropriate protection is provided under European Habitats Directive. But in the short space of time since the ruling, the necessary steps to apply the Directive have not yet been completed by your department. The DTI is ignoring this and putting coral reefs in particular under a very real threat. Far from being in the national interest, this destructive drilling is totally unnecessary as none of the oil found can safely be used as fuel. Your recent climate strategy made clear that a major shift away from fossil fuels is required to cut CO2 emissions by as much as 90%. This means that instead of exploring for new oil, reliance on fossil fuels must be phased out in an orderly way. Existing reserves of fossil fuels would, if burnt, produce at least twice as much carbon dioxide as can be tolerated if we are to prevent dangerous levels of climate change.

Nor is there a good economic case for allowing these wells. Employment in oil is in decline. For the long-term protection of jobs and the environment, Government money must switch from oil to clean renewable energy, such as wind, wave and solar power.
Please continue to support the protection of our marine environment and our climate by stopping this drilling.
Environmental Investigation Agency
Friends of the Earth England and Wales
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Greenpeace
Marine Conservation Society
RSPB
Wildlife trusts
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society