UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces climate test over Rosebank North Sea oilfield

Rosebank, the United Kingdom’s largest untapped oil and gas field located about 130 km off the Shetland Islands, has become a focal point for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s early tenure. The new government must decide whether to permit drilling, a move praised by U.S. President Donald Trump but condemned by climate activists.

Activist Andrea Sanchez Quiroz, who lives in Shetland, leads the Shetland Stop Rosebank campaign, arguing the project threatens marine ecosystems and conflicts with the UK’s climate commitments. In January 2025 a court ruled that the original consent for Rosebank (and Shell’s Jackdaw field) was unlawful, requiring fresh approval that now includes downstream emissions in the impact assessment. Environmental groups such as Uplift and Greenpeace are preparing legal challenges as the decision looms.

The outcome will signal the UK’s stance on fossil‑fuel development versus its climate targets.