Isobel
@iso-bel.bsky.social
Interim Head of Politics at Uplift β«πworking to support a just transition from fossil fuels | Views and tweets my own | π πΆ she/her.
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Isobel
@iso-bel.bsky.social
Β· Dec 9
Hey Bluesky ππ¦ on here to talk climate change, nature, Scottish politics, and how we can secure a fair transition away from oil and gas.
If you're at SNP Conference on Sunday, we've got a brilliant line up at our panel on how the SNP can help make a fair North Sea transition a reality, including the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy. Details π - come along for a timely & vital discussion (& breakfast spread π₯ !)
October 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM
If you're at SNP Conference on Sunday, we've got a brilliant line up at our panel on how the SNP can help make a fair North Sea transition a reality, including the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy. Details π - come along for a timely & vital discussion (& breakfast spread π₯ !)
Reposted by Isobel
Nick Robinson on Today this AM was completely wrong to suggest that pumping more oil & gas from the North Sea would lower bills, something even former Tory Energy Secretaries have accepted.
Weβve burned most of the gas and export the vast majority of the oilβand oil is basically whatβs leftβ¦
Weβve burned most of the gas and export the vast majority of the oilβand oil is basically whatβs leftβ¦
October 1, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Nick Robinson on Today this AM was completely wrong to suggest that pumping more oil & gas from the North Sea would lower bills, something even former Tory Energy Secretaries have accepted.
Weβve burned most of the gas and export the vast majority of the oilβand oil is basically whatβs leftβ¦
Weβve burned most of the gas and export the vast majority of the oilβand oil is basically whatβs leftβ¦
Reposted by Isobel
"This isn't a choice between more North Sea drilling or imports β that ship has sailed. Itβs between more imports or ramping up renewables. The transition must be better planned...but as long as the spectre of more drilling hovers, governments will continue to delay."
My letter in today's FT:
My letter in today's FT:
Letter: UK choice β boost oil and gas imports or ramp up renewables
From Tessa Khan, Executive Director of Uplift
www.ft.com
September 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"This isn't a choice between more North Sea drilling or imports β that ship has sailed. Itβs between more imports or ramping up renewables. The transition must be better planned...but as long as the spectre of more drilling hovers, governments will continue to delay."
My letter in today's FT:
My letter in today's FT:
Reposted by Isobel
Dale Vinceβs latest bright idea β giving even more subsidies to oil and gas giants and "optimising" production β is about as sensible as his plan to mass produce gas from grass.
Let's discuss!
Let's discuss!
September 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Dale Vinceβs latest bright idea β giving even more subsidies to oil and gas giants and "optimising" production β is about as sensible as his plan to mass produce gas from grass.
Let's discuss!
Let's discuss!
Reposted by Isobel
Somewhat sensationalist headline here obscures some really interesting research - which tallies with other available tracking data - on shifting attitudes to climate in the UK.
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view π t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view π t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
September 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Somewhat sensationalist headline here obscures some really interesting research - which tallies with other available tracking data - on shifting attitudes to climate in the UK.
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view π t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view π t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
Just over a week to go to apply for this exciting post in Upliftβs politics team to lead our political engagement in Scotland ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections ππ»π¨
π¨ Uplift is hiring a Senior Political Adviser (Scotland)! π¨
π Edinburgh, Scotland
πΌ Fixed-term, 1 year contract
π° Β£49,503 - Β£54,093
ποΈ Apply by 11pm, Tuesday 30th July
π Find out more and apply: cdn.prod.website-files.com/65fb154b5e34...
π Edinburgh, Scotland
πΌ Fixed-term, 1 year contract
π° Β£49,503 - Β£54,093
ποΈ Apply by 11pm, Tuesday 30th July
π Find out more and apply: cdn.prod.website-files.com/65fb154b5e34...
cdn.prod.website-files.com
July 23, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Just over a week to go to apply for this exciting post in Upliftβs politics team to lead our political engagement in Scotland ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections ππ»π¨
Reposted by Isobel
People from across Scotland will meet their MSPs at Holyrood on Thurs 18 Sept to call for urgent, fair climate action. This is a critical moment, with a new Climate Change Plan is coming, and an election next year. Will you join them? π
π Sign up: bit.ly/44TiTfB
#ActNowChangeForever #MassLobby
π Sign up: bit.ly/44TiTfB
#ActNowChangeForever #MassLobby
July 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
People from across Scotland will meet their MSPs at Holyrood on Thurs 18 Sept to call for urgent, fair climate action. This is a critical moment, with a new Climate Change Plan is coming, and an election next year. Will you join them? π
π Sign up: bit.ly/44TiTfB
#ActNowChangeForever #MassLobby
π Sign up: bit.ly/44TiTfB
#ActNowChangeForever #MassLobby
π¨ Uplift is hiring a Senior Political Adviser (Scotland)! π¨
π Edinburgh, Scotland
πΌ Fixed-term, 1 year contract
π° Β£49,503 - Β£54,093
ποΈ Apply by 11pm, Tuesday 30th July
π Find out more and apply: cdn.prod.website-files.com/65fb154b5e34...
π Edinburgh, Scotland
πΌ Fixed-term, 1 year contract
π° Β£49,503 - Β£54,093
ποΈ Apply by 11pm, Tuesday 30th July
π Find out more and apply: cdn.prod.website-files.com/65fb154b5e34...
cdn.prod.website-files.com
July 14, 2025 at 1:15 PM
π¨ Uplift is hiring a Senior Political Adviser (Scotland)! π¨
π Edinburgh, Scotland
πΌ Fixed-term, 1 year contract
π° Β£49,503 - Β£54,093
ποΈ Apply by 11pm, Tuesday 30th July
π Find out more and apply: cdn.prod.website-files.com/65fb154b5e34...
π Edinburgh, Scotland
πΌ Fixed-term, 1 year contract
π° Β£49,503 - Β£54,093
ποΈ Apply by 11pm, Tuesday 30th July
π Find out more and apply: cdn.prod.website-files.com/65fb154b5e34...
Reposted by Isobel
Another day, another story from the oil & gas industry that's all spin. The latest claim is there's an extra 3.5-ish bn barrels of O&G there for the taking in the North Sea, which would generate huge riches for the UK. Except the underlying analysis confirms this is "beyond realistic assumptions"
/1
/1
June 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Another day, another story from the oil & gas industry that's all spin. The latest claim is there's an extra 3.5-ish bn barrels of O&G there for the taking in the North Sea, which would generate huge riches for the UK. Except the underlying analysis confirms this is "beyond realistic assumptions"
/1
/1
Interested in the new guidance on assessing new oil and gas projects? Check out this great thread π§΅π. Perhaps most importantly "Assertions in the press that this makes it more likely that the Rosebank oil field will go ahead are wrong & wishful thinking from the industry."
The UK gov has just published new guidance for environmental impact assessments for oil & gas projects. Despite reports/industry spin, it includes a genuinely robust, credible approach to assessing the emissions caused by burning oil & gas. Let's take a look! π§΅
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2525207...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2525207...
Rosebank & Jackdaw fields face 'tightened' approval process
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that firms must account for emissions created by the burning of fossil fuels.
www.heraldscotland.com
June 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Interested in the new guidance on assessing new oil and gas projects? Check out this great thread π§΅π. Perhaps most importantly "Assertions in the press that this makes it more likely that the Rosebank oil field will go ahead are wrong & wishful thinking from the industry."
Important words from @rozfoyer.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2511...
Reform is the symptom and not the cause
Roz Foyer is general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress
www.heraldscotland.com
April 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Important words from @rozfoyer.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2511...
Brilliant piece from @carorance.bsky.social on the public support for ending new oil and gas and supporting workers "One million people is an enormous show of strength and shows the public appetite for a fast, fair transition away from fossil fuels." www.thenational.scot/politics/251...
A million-strong demand for just transition away from oil and gas
LAST week, I was at 10
www.thenational.scot
April 28, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Brilliant piece from @carorance.bsky.social on the public support for ending new oil and gas and supporting workers "One million people is an enormous show of strength and shows the public appetite for a fast, fair transition away from fossil fuels." www.thenational.scot/politics/251...
Reposted by Isobel
Apparently Nigel Farage wants the UK to be "self-sufficient in gas".
Nigel, I have good news and bad news.
The bad news is that the UK's North Sea gas output is going to fall by 95%, even if the govt U-turns and issues new licenses.
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/2
Nigel, I have good news and bad news.
The bad news is that the UK's North Sea gas output is going to fall by 95%, even if the govt U-turns and issues new licenses.
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/2
April 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Apparently Nigel Farage wants the UK to be "self-sufficient in gas".
Nigel, I have good news and bad news.
The bad news is that the UK's North Sea gas output is going to fall by 95%, even if the govt U-turns and issues new licenses.
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/2
Nigel, I have good news and bad news.
The bad news is that the UK's North Sea gas output is going to fall by 95%, even if the govt U-turns and issues new licenses.
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/2
It was great to explore ways we can move past vague rhetoric on jobs and the transition and deliver interventions that support workers and communities.
April 8, 2025 at 11:19 AM
It was great to explore ways we can move past vague rhetoric on jobs and the transition and deliver interventions that support workers and communities.
Great discussion at Uplift & @futureeconscot.bsky.social event on securing a fair North Sea transition, at the @scotlibdems.org.uk conference in Inverness. Thanks to panel @miriambrett.bsky.social @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social @dominicmhinde.bsky.social and everyone that attended & asked excellent qs
April 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Great discussion at Uplift & @futureeconscot.bsky.social event on securing a fair North Sea transition, at the @scotlibdems.org.uk conference in Inverness. Thanks to panel @miriambrett.bsky.social @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social @dominicmhinde.bsky.social and everyone that attended & asked excellent qs
Important thread π digging into the UK's oil & gas licensing regime and energy security. Scottish Labour have a huge opportunity to champion the clean energy agenda ahead of 2026 which means embracing the transition to renewables and calling for proper transition planning for workers and communities
These comments from @anassarwar.bsky.social suggest a misunderstanding of both the UK's oil & gas licensing regime as well as a failure to grasp how little we can rely on North Sea oil companies to provide domestic energy security:
/1 www.newstatesman.com/politics/sco...
/1 www.newstatesman.com/politics/sco...
Anas Sarwar: βEnergy security is national securityβ
The leader of Scottish Labour is diverging from his party in Westminster when it comes to fossil fuels.
www.newstatesman.com
April 2, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Important thread π digging into the UK's oil & gas licensing regime and energy security. Scottish Labour have a huge opportunity to champion the clean energy agenda ahead of 2026 which means embracing the transition to renewables and calling for proper transition planning for workers and communities
Reposted by Isobel
Another day, another set of claims from the oil & gas industry lobby that don't withstand scrutiny and put O&G executives interests above the public's:
π§΅
www.thenational.scot/news/2503389...
π§΅
www.thenational.scot/news/2503389...
Campaigners pan claim North Sea could produce half of UK oil and gas by 2050
THE oil and gas industry is "peddling a fantasy", campaigners have warned after bosses said the North Sea could produce about half of theβ¦
www.thenational.scot
March 25, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Another day, another set of claims from the oil & gas industry lobby that don't withstand scrutiny and put O&G executives interests above the public's:
π§΅
www.thenational.scot/news/2503389...
π§΅
www.thenational.scot/news/2503389...
Reposted by Isobel
Letβs be clear that Shellβa company that has prioritised fossil fuel expansionβ is driving insecurity in retirement for us all. Not only because of the catastrophic economic & social impacts of climate changeβ¦
π§΅
news.sky.com/story/shells...
π§΅
news.sky.com/story/shells...
Shell's new strategy is good news for your savings
Sky's Ian King writes that while the UK energy firm's climate commitments continue to attract criticism, there is much for savers to welcome in its strategy update.
news.sky.com
March 25, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Letβs be clear that Shellβa company that has prioritised fossil fuel expansionβ is driving insecurity in retirement for us all. Not only because of the catastrophic economic & social impacts of climate changeβ¦
π§΅
news.sky.com/story/shells...
π§΅
news.sky.com/story/shells...
Looking forward to taking part in this panel on Saturday at the @scotlibdems.org.uk conference in Inverness. We will explore what action is needed to ensure the North Sea transition is fair and managed, with @miriambrett.bsky.social
@amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social and @dominicmhinde.bsky.social
@amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social and @dominicmhinde.bsky.social
April 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Looking forward to taking part in this panel on Saturday at the @scotlibdems.org.uk conference in Inverness. We will explore what action is needed to ensure the North Sea transition is fair and managed, with @miriambrett.bsky.social
@amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social and @dominicmhinde.bsky.social
@amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social and @dominicmhinde.bsky.social
If youβre heading to Scottish Labour Party Conference and you're interested in how we can secure a transition to renewables that supports workers, communities and a safe climate, then come along to our Uplift's Sunday Breakfast Fringe. There will be π₯ and an amazing panel π
February 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM
If youβre heading to Scottish Labour Party Conference and you're interested in how we can secure a transition to renewables that supports workers, communities and a safe climate, then come along to our Uplift's Sunday Breakfast Fringe. There will be π₯ and an amazing panel π
Rosebank decision thread π
Breaking: Uplift welcomes a very sensible decision from the Court of Session invalidating the decision to approve the Rosebank oil field. Rosebank is a disaster for the climate & will do next to nothing to create the prosperity & stability that the UK needs.
π§΅
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
π§΅
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Rosebank oilfield decision ruled unlawful by Edinburgh court
Court of session said UK government go-ahead for Rosebank and Jackdaw permits did not take into account carbon emissions
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Rosebank decision thread π
Important new analysis from Uplift about the potential emissions of proposed North Sea oil and gas fields π
Brand new analysis from us shows that proposed new North Sea oil & gas fields--areas that have received a licence but still need a final development permit from the UK government--hold up to the equivalent of 3.8 billion barrels of oil.
π§΅
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
π§΅
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
CO2 emissions from new North Sea drilling sites would match 30 yearsβ worth from UK households
New research comes as dozens of small potential fields have received some form of license from the government
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2024 at 10:56 AM
Important new analysis from Uplift about the potential emissions of proposed North Sea oil and gas fields π
Reposted by Isobel
More proof that the rhetoric reflected in some parts of the press and parliament is out of step with public sentiment:
This survey of UK business leaders shows strong backing for the transition away from oil & gas and an end to new oil & gas licensing:
www.thenational.scot/news/2474695...
This survey of UK business leaders shows strong backing for the transition away from oil & gas and an end to new oil & gas licensing:
www.thenational.scot/news/2474695...
Majority of Scottish businesses support fossil fuel phase-out, new figures show
Figures from an environmental group show that 82 percent of Scottish businesses support the phasing out of fossil fuels ...
www.thenational.scot
November 28, 2024 at 7:45 AM
More proof that the rhetoric reflected in some parts of the press and parliament is out of step with public sentiment:
This survey of UK business leaders shows strong backing for the transition away from oil & gas and an end to new oil & gas licensing:
www.thenational.scot/news/2474695...
This survey of UK business leaders shows strong backing for the transition away from oil & gas and an end to new oil & gas licensing:
www.thenational.scot/news/2474695...