In 2025, the BBC reported that licenses granted to two new Scottish oil and gas fields, the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, were unlawful, following a court case brought by environmental campaigners, Uplift and Greenpeace. The owners of the oil and gas fields must therefore seek “fresh approval” from the Government, taking into account the effect of burning extracted fossil fuels on the climate.

This follows a June ruling by the UK Supreme Court which found environmental impact assessments must also take into account downstream emissions.

Rosebank, which was going to be developed by Equinor, was originally approved in 2023. Jackdaw, which was going to be developed by Shell, was originally approved in 2022. According to the BBC, Ithaca Energy also has a 20% stake in Rosebank.

Earlier in 2024, it was reported that the Government would not contest the legal claims brought by Uplift and Greenpeace.

Shell told journalists that swift action was needed for the government to grant approval, while Equinor said it welcomed the ruling and promised to continue working with the government to progress it.

In February 2025, The Guardian reported that lobbyists for the fossil fuel industry had argued greenhouse gas emissions from oilfields should be treated differently than from other industries. The industry group Offshore Energies allegedly asked for Rosebank and other oilfields’ emissions caused by burning extracted oil and gas (‘scope three emissions’) to be treated differently. Climate experts counter this argument, including my emphasising that scope three emissions make up the majority of “global warming pollution”. Offshore Energies did not respond to The Guardian’s request for comment.