This makes us the largest economy to end new fossil fuel exploration. After nearly three decades of campaigning – from activists clinging to rigs in Arctic storms to lawyers dismantling government decisions piece by piece – we’ve won something that once seemed impossible.
This is a historic moment, and a major win for the entire climate movement. Together we’ve relentlessly pressured government after government to put a stop to new licences for decades. Greenpeace first campaigned on this issue in 1997!
Let’s dive into what this victory means, how we got here, and what comes next.
What does this mean?
First things first: this doesn’t mean all oil and gas production will end immediately. The end of exploration licenses means companies can no longer get permission to search for new oil and gas reserves in previously untapped areas.
But it’s still a major change. Every new field discovered locks us into decades more drilling, more burning, more damage. This decision cuts that cycle off at the source.
So existing North Sea fields will produce until they run out, or until production stops for some other reason. But without new discoveries, production will steadily decline until it reaches zero. The North Sea fossil fuel era has a finish line now, and that’s exactly what the climate needs.
This is a defining point in the UK’s transition to clean power, and will help bring down our climate impact in the medium and long term.
But the ripples from this decision spread way beyond our borders. As one of the first countries to embrace fossil fuels, the UK’s part in the global climate story is much bigger than our national carbon footprint suggests. We led the world into the fossil fuel age, so it’s right that we play our part to lead it out.
However, this isn’t just about doing the right thing. Breaking our reliance on oil and gas frees up resources to build the economy of the future: renewable and clean technologies. These technologies will be far more valuable than the existing oil and gas reserves. And as we’ve seen over the last few years, being tied to global oil and gas prices was like riding a badly maintained roller coaster after one-too-many jagerbombs.
Nothing changes without you
Together we’re changing the world – let’s keep it up!
Big changes aren’t won in a day. They’re won by showing up, year after year, until the impossible becomes inevitable.
Here’s a few highlights from decades of campaigning – all powered by supporters like you.
1997
Atlantic Frontier Campaign
Back when many people hadn’t even heard of climate change, Greenpeace’s Atlantic Frontier Campaign confronted fossil fuel industry expansion into the North Atlantic west of Shetland.
Greenpeace backed Platform, Art Not Oil and Liberate Tate in their campaign against oil companies’ greenwashing sponsorship of arts and culture in the UK.
2019
No New Oil campaign
Greenpeace UK launched its No New Oil petition, calling on the government to end new licences for oil and gas.
At the same time, our activists boarded a BP rig bound for the Vorlich oil field, and occupied it for 10 days.
We also launched our first legal fight against an oil drilling permit by challenging the consent for BP to drill the Vorlich field.
2020
Just Transition
We teamed up with Friends of the Earth and Platform on groundbreaking research into the need for a just transition for North Sea oil and gas workers.
We consulted 1400 offshore workers and publishing the Offshore report, which shares the testimonies of workers in the industry and their perspectives and priorities in the looming energy transition.
2021
Cambo challenge
We challenged the Cambo oil field permit in the courts. When the company ploughed ahead we launched a global resistance campaign to show them the reputational damage this would do – and they backed down!
2021
Wind turbine tour
In the run up to the Scottish elections, we surveyed our Scottish supporters to build a base of active supporters on just transition from oil in Scotland, and then launched a joint petition to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Friends of the Earth Scotland calling for a just phaseout of oil and gas.
In the summer, we took a wind turbine blade on tour up the east coasts of Scotland and England for workers, communities and politicians to sign to show their support for a just transition for oil and gas workers.
Autumn 2021
Downing Street blocked
Greenpeace activists blockaded Downing Street to demand PM Boris Johnson stop the Cambo oil field exploitation – and installed an oily statue of Johnson outside his residence.
2023
Rishi's roof protest
PM Rishi Sunak followed Liz Truss’ plans to decisively break the political consensus on climate with his announcement of hundreds of new licences in 2023.
Greenpeace UK scaled Sunak’s Yorkshire mansion (while we knew the family was on holiday) to call on the PM to end new oil licences. We covered the mansion in black fabric as a symbol of the massive harm new oil would do to our climate.
We also launched the legal challenges against the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields that would crack the system wide open.
The UK Supreme Court announced a landmark ruling forcing the emissions from burning fossil fuels once extracted to be considered in all planning applications.
The case was led by Sarah Finch, backed by Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. It has had ripple effects across the globe, where it’s been cited in legal arguments against other oil drilling permits.
January 2025
Permit decision
The Scottish courts ruled the Rosebank and Jackdaw permits were unlawfully granted, and forced the companies to reapply for their permits.
November 2025
Victory!
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the end of new oil and gas exploration licenses in her Autumn Budget, finally calling time on the North Sea fossil fuel industry.
What comes next?
The fight continues.
We’ll challenge every attempt to exploit the loopholes. We’ll defend this victory against industry pushback. We’ll keep fighting for the North Sea workers who built this industry – because they deserve good, secure, unionised jobs in the renewable revolution, not abandonment.
And we’ll work to build on this progress too, campaigning against permits for new oil and gas in already-licensed areas like Rosebank, Jackdaw and Cambo.
And when the fight gets tough and hope is hard to find, we’ll remember the lesson from today: we started in 1997. We didn’t win until 2025. Persistence is everything.
Help Greenpeace keep winning
For 50 years, we’ve changed the world, but nothing changes without you. Together, let’s keep the victories coming!
