Scottish Tories 'won't throw away oil and gas jobs to achieve climate goals'

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives says his party would not prioritise climate goals over keeping oil and gas jobs.

Douglas Ross made a virtual speech this morning - outlining his proposals to help secure the long-term future of the industry.

But his comments have come under fire from the Scottish Greens, who say he is ignoring climate change.

Mr Ross wants the Scottish and UK Governments to establish a joint North Sea ministerial working group "to align investment programmes and strategies".

He is also calling for the governments to work together on an exemption to allow oil and gas workers to be tested for Covid-19 offshore more easily, and wants Holyrood to match any funding commitment in the North Sea transition deal with support for local infrastructure, ports and skills.

Mr Ross said: "It’s right that we push to expand the renewables sector, we all want to meet our climate change commitments and achieve the net zero target by 2045.

"But there is far too much focus on managing the decline of the oil and gas industry. We need to prepare for the future but the priority for me is the 100,000 jobs in the sector right now.

"My party will not throw away oil and gas jobs to achieve climate goals. We need our North Sea oil and gas sector to survive for decades, not for years.

"It can thrive and grow alongside a thriving and growing renewables sector. This is not a competition. We are going to be reliant on oil and gas for years to come.

"So I will be arguing that both of Scotland’s governments need to find new ways to work together on a more positive, bright future for the industry."

But Scottish Greens energy and climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has cited a recent study, showing that 77% of oil workers would be happy to move into renewables and to learn new skills - saying Mr Ross's comments are out of step with the aspirations of the workforce, and would hamper to Scotland's efforts to tackle climate change.

He said: "Douglas Ross engaging in anti-science climate change denial isn’t just depressing, it is downright dangerous, and will be dismissed by most Scots who acknowledge that the climate crisis is an urgent priority.

"Scotland has an abundance of renewable energy potential, yet the Scottish Tories seem determined to hitch our future to the fossil fuel relics of the past.

"The Tories' bizarre approach also lets the SNP off the hook for failing to capitalise on Scotland’s potential and deliver the quality, well paid, unionised green jobs that we know can be created now.

"Most oil workers want to put their skills to work in Scotland’s renewables sector. But SNP and Tory governments have so far failed miserably to deliver on promised jobs.

"With the COP26 climate summit due to take place in Glasgow next year, and a new man in the White House who actually recognises the existential threat that is posed by the climate crisis there is a real opportunity for Scotland to play a leading role in tackling it.

"We need to see an emergency response from government that befits the climate emergency we face. Step one in that response should be to ignore the anti-science drivel espoused by the honourable member for Moray."