Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed not to repeat the mistakes of deindustrialisation by sacrificing Aberdeen's oil and gas workforce in the transition to net zero
Writing in The Guardian, Mr Burnham said that Britain must protect jobs and energy security while building a cleaner future.
He said his government's decision to approve the Jackdaw gas field was part of a pragmatic approach to energy policy which recognised that Britain would continue to need oil and gas for decades.
The development, which is expected to begin producing gas this winter, will increase domestic gas production by around 6%, protect hundreds of Scottish jobs and contribute almost £3billion to the UK economy over its lifetime.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the decision would be warmly welcomed in Aberdeen, where thousands of livelihoods depend on the North Sea industry, and pledged not to abandon communities as Britain moves towards cleaner energy.
He wrote: 'I know this news will be warmly welcomed in Aberdeen and by oil and gas workers across Scotland. Their jobs support families, businesses and entire communities. Yet, like many others, their industry has suffered from deindustrialisation, with too little thought given by politicians to the places left behind. I will not be so careless with people’s lives.
"Our oil and gas workers have powered our nation for decades, and they will continue to play a key role for decades to come.'
Mr Burnham argued that domestic production would help reduce Britain's dependence on imported fossil fuels, which have a higher carbon footprint than gas produced at home.
He wrote: 'The transition to net zero is a process, not a moment. I want Britain to make that transition on our terms: reducing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, supporting good jobs and growing our economy so we can help people with the cost of living.'
However, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Labour's commitment to reaching net zero by 2050 and its manifesto pledge not to issue new licences for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.
He insisted there was no contradiction between protecting existing oil and gas jobs and developing the clean-energy industries of the future.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government's new £2billion energy wealth fund, which will use future North Sea oil and gas tax revenues to support investment in renewable energy.
He concluded that the transition must deliver tangible economic benefits rather than leave industrial communities bearing the costs of change.
'There are two ways we can transition to clean energy. One way, the traditional Whitehall way, is to make people carry the burden of change while others take the rewards.
'The other is to make the transition work for people by creating good jobs, backing British industry, keeping bills as low as possible, strengthening our energy security and giving communities a greater say over their future.
'This government chooses the second path.'
Source: Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
