Musicians Rally to Urge UK PM to Reject Rosebank Oilfield Development
In an unexpected convergence of art and activism, more than 200 musicians and artists have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, demanding that he refuse approval for the Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea.
The letter lists 211 signatories, including well‑known names such as Bicep, Brian Eno, Confidence Man, Massive Attack, I. JORDAN, Daniel Avery, Elkka, Jon Hopkins, Eliza Rose, Midland, Romy, Nicolas Jaar, Shanti Celeste and HAAi. The collective voice spans genres and generations, underscoring a shared concern for the environment.
Rosebank sits northwest of Shetland at a depth of roughly 1,100 metres. It is the United Kingdom’s largest undeveloped oilfield, discovered in 2004 and operated by Equinor, Suncor and Siccar Point Energy, which was acquired by Ithaca Energy in 2022. A final investment decision was expected in May 2022, but the project has stalled amid legal and environmental challenges.
A recent court ruling forced a reassessment of the environmental impact assessment (EIA). The court found that the original EIA had considered only the emissions from extraction, ignoring the far larger carbon footprint that would result from burning the oil once it is produced. The updated assessment estimates that the field could generate roughly 250 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over its lifetime.
Signatories argue that drilling would not lower household energy bills or improve the UK’s energy security. Much of the oil is expected to be exported to international markets, so the domestic benefit is limited. The letter also highlights the growing impact of extreme weather events on the live music and cultural sectors, suggesting that continued fossil‑fuel development would exacerbate climate risks that already threaten touring and festival operations.
Brian Eno, a long‑time climate activist, has been particularly vocal through his environmental organisation EarthPercent. The organisation encourages artists and industry professionals to pledge a small percentage of their income to climate‑focused charities. The Stop Rosebank coalition, which has amassed more than one million supporters, has called for a nationwide halt to the field’s development.
Prime Minister Burnham, who took office in July 2026, faces a decision on whether to approve new drilling for Rosebank and the neighbouring Jackdaw field. The government’s climate commitments include a target to cut net‑zero emissions by 2050, and critics argue that the Rosebank project would undermine those goals. The decision is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, following the conclusion of the public consultation.
The music community’s intervention is part of a broader campaign that has seen artists and cultural organisations join environmental groups in opposing the field. The letter is one of the latest public appeals, following earlier demonstrations and petitions organized by the Stop Rosebank coalition.
If the government approves the project, the UK would face a significant increase in carbon emissions, potentially delaying the transition to renewable energy sources. Conversely, rejecting the field would align with the UK’s net‑zero strategy and demonstrate political support for the climate movement.
The final outcome will have implications beyond the music industry. It will signal the government’s willingness to balance energy development with environmental responsibility and could influence future decisions on other fossil‑fuel projects in the North Sea.
At present, the government has not yet announced a definitive stance. The next steps will involve the final review of the EIA, consultation with stakeholders, and a formal decision by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The open letter and the broader campaign illustrate how cultural figures are increasingly engaging with policy debates that affect both the environment and the creative economy.
