Reaction: Shell pulls out of the Arctic

Reacting to news that Shell is ending its Arctic drilling programme, Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said:

“Big oil has sustained an unmitigated defeat. They had a budget of billions, we had a movement of millions. The ‘unpredictable regulatory environment’ that forced Shell out of the Arctic is otherwise known as massive pressure from more than 7 million people. For three years we faced them down, and the people won.

“The Save the Arctic movement has exacted a huge reputational price from Shell for its Arctic drilling programme. And as the company went another year without striking oil, that price finally became too high. They’re pulling out.

“Now President Obama should use his remaining months in office to say that no other oil company will be licenced to drill in the American Arctic.

“Soon the nations of the world will gather in Paris to negotiate a deal on climate change. Shell’s defeat shows which way the wind is blowing. If a movement of seven million people can beat one of world’s biggest energy companies, think what we can do when we come together in our tens and hundreds of millions. This is a moment to appreciate that when we assert our power, we can win extraordinary victories in the fight against climate change.”