26th October 2026
The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) is deeply disappointed by the Government’s decision to approve production at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, despite the growing evidence of the health harms caused by climate change.
We recognise the difficult challenges the Government faces in maintaining energy security and protecting households from fuel poverty. However, it also has a clear responsibility to safeguard the health of current and future generations. Climate change is already damaging health across the UK and around the world, and those impacts will become increasingly severe unless urgent action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Government policy must reflect the scale and urgency of the climate crisis by accelerating the transition to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and delivering the rapid emissions reductions needed to protect public health.
The climate emergency is a health emergency. UKHACC will continue to call for the rejection of the Rosebank oil field on public health grounds and for investment in clean, secure energy solutions that support both population health and long-term energy resilience. The Government now has an opportunity to demonstrate genuine leadership on climate change by aligning energy policy with its commitments to protect health and the future viability of the planet.