Oil & Gas Transitions
Co-creating evidence to accelerate policy action in the North Sea
Our initiative aims to develop a better understanding of oil and gas transition scenarios for the North Sea region (Denmark, Norway and the UK), establish buy-in from key stakeholders and enable collaboration to scale up innovation and early-stage just transition efforts in the oil and gas sector.
The Challenge
Limiting global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, requires a deep transformation of our energy systems to drastically cut fossil fuels. A just transition for the oil and gas sector is our next frontier and a sensitive intervention point to close the gap between international climate ambitions and policies. In the North Sea, Denmark, Norway and the UK are expected to play a key role as first-movers, but only Denmark has so far committed to phase out production. Policymakers, industry, workers, financiers, academia and civil society need to work together to meet the scale of this challenge.
Only Denmark has a phase-out deadline for oil & gas production.
The Challenge
The Oil & Gas Sector in the North Sea
Denmark
11
Active fields in the North Sea
2.3%
% of country’s GHG emissions from upstream oil and gas activities
26,000
Direct & indirect jobs
Norway
67
Active fields in the North Sea
27%
% of country’s GHG emissions from upstream oil and gas activities
205,000
Direct & indirect jobs
UK
259
Active fields in the North Sea
4%
% of country’s GHG emissions from upstream oil and gas activities
151,600
Direct & indirect jobs
Tackling the Challenge
Robust evidence gathering to improve understanding of the need, barriers, opportunities and impacts of the oil and gas transitions in the UK, Norway and Denmark.
Co-production of just and feasible transition pathways to 2050 alongside a diversity of key stakeholders from government, industry, civil society and academia.
Roadmaps drawn from the lessons from the North Sea to raise ambition in other producing and non-producing countries around the world.
Effective articulation and collaboration with ongoing projects and organisations to leverage the real-world impact of our research.
Latest News
Clear North Sea transition roadmaps away from oil and gas could deliver climate goals early and mitigate the energy crisis
Concrete pathways created in partnership with those affected by phase out could accelerate a clean and just energy transition in UK, Norway and Denmark, making the North Sea region lead the phase-out across the world.
The North Sea countries could be first movers to transition away from oil and gas
North Sea countries face barriers to an orderly phase-out from the oil and gas industries, further exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine. However, they remain best placed to be first movers to achieve an orderly and just transition.
Just Transition scorecards for the North Sea region
The UK, Norway and Denmark all have gaps in policies aimed at ensuring a just transition, an Oil and Gas Transitions report compiled by Stockholm Environment Institute reveals.
Partners
Latest Events
North Sea Transition Workshop
This invite-only workshop will bring together key decision-makers and actors from the North Sea and beyond.
International Conference on Fossil Fuel Supply and Climate Policy
The international conference on 26 and 27 Sep 2022 explores the intersection of fossil fuel supply and climate policy. It is organised by Stockholm Environment Institute and supported by Climate Strategies.
Oil and Gas as the Next Climate Frontier: Just Transitions from Black to Green
Watch a recording of our COP26 side event to learn how Denmark, Norway and the UK can become first movers on oil & gas transitions.
Oil & Gas Transitions: Co-creating evidence to accelerate action
30th June, 2021 — The North Sea is an intensive region for oil and gas exploration and production, with the UK, Norway and Denmark as major players in exploiting those resources. They remain the three top oil and gas producing nations in Europe despite their ambitious climate neutrality commitments aligned with the Paris Agreement.