The Weald Action Group has responded to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC)’s latest five-yearly advice to the Government on the likely impact of onshore petroleum extraction in England on the ability to meet UK-wide carbon budgets and Net Zero.
In a letter to CCC Chair Nigel Topping, we say that the CCC’s January 2026 letter to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero runs contrary to the Committee’s previous advice of a presumption against furthering such developments – and may well underestimate the emissions associated with onshore petroleum activity.
We say that the advice:
- fails to reflect the current reality of the onshore petroleum sector.
- relies on assumptions that are inconsistent with observed industry activity and regulatory practice.
- conflicts with the government’s own guidance.
- ignores the failure of the regulator to ensure disused wells, a potential source of methane emissions, are decommissioned in a timely manner.
- relies on questionable National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) data on methane emissions from upstream oil and gas activities.
- runs contrary to the Committee’s previous advice of a presumption against onshore oil and gas developments. In 2022, the CCC said, “We would support a tighter limit on production, with stringent tests and a presumption against exploration. An end to UK exploration would send a clear signal to investors and consumers that the UK is committed to the 1.5°C global temperature goal”.
Read our letter here: Weald Action Group letter to CCC 27 May 2026