Anders Opedal

President & CEO, Equinor ASA

Forusbeen 50,

4035 Stavanger

Norway

7th November 2024

Dear Mr Opedal,

As leaders of faith groups and faith-based organisations, we believe that our responsibility to love our neighbour compels us to act responsibly and in ways that protect our environment and promote the well-being of all creation. Statements from prominent faith figures, including Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury, emphasise the moral imperative to address climate change. They remind us that failing to act is not just a political failure, but a spiritual and ethical one.

We now know the enormous harm of global heating caused by the burning of oil and gas, a harm most acutely felt by the poor and vulnerable, and we know the science is telling us that the exploitation and development of new oil and gas fields must stop immediately if the harm is to be limited. You are about to defend in the Scottish courts your desire to develop the Rosebank oil field off the coast of Shetland, despite this. We, along with hundreds of thousands of UK citizens, 700 scientists and experts, 200 organisations and celebrities, trade union leaders, 400 faith leaders, 40 MEPs and MPs from every major political party in the UK, stand in opposition to the development of Rosebank.The potential development of Rosebank stands in stark contrast to the urgent calls from scientists and experts who warn that any new oil and gas projects threaten our ability to limit catastrophic global warming. The CO2 emissions from this one field could equate to the annual emissions of the 28 lowest-income countries combined. 

Moving ahead with such a project in light of this scientific consensus would indeed be an act of moral dereliction. Equinor is technologically capable of generating energy from renewable sources, yet the barrier to doing this at pace and in place of oil and gas seems to be the pursuit of short-term financial gains. We call on you to stop your development of new oil and gas fields, starting with Rosebank.

Signed

Rt Revd Canon Dr Anderson Jeremiah, Bishop of Edmonton, Diocese of London

Rt Revd Dr Martin Gainsborough, Bishop of Kingston, Diocese of Southwark

Rt Revd Rob Saner-Haigh, Bishop of Penrith, Diocese of Carlisle

Revd Canon Graham R Sparkes, Moderator, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Revd Tim Presswood, Immediate Past President – Baptist Union of Great Britain

Michael Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Social Theology, University of Birmingham, Former Director of Christian Aid

Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy, CAFOD

Dr Robert Ellis, Principal Emeritus, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford

The Very Revd Dr Stephen Edwards, Dean of Worcester

The Very Revd Dr David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury

The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough

Revd Dr Clara Rushbrook, Co-Principal Northern Baptist College

Revd Professor Paul S. Fiddes, Senior Research Fellow, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford

Richard Murray, Chair, Eco-Congregation Scotland

John Weaver, Vice President, John Ray Initiative

Revd Simon Holland, Former Interim Dean of Chichester

Revd Margot Hodson, Theology & Education Director, John Ray Initiative

Revd David Coleman, Environmental Chaplain, Eco-Congregation Scotland

Revd Dr David Gregory, Baptist Missioner for Science and Environment

Ven Pete Spiers, Archdeacon Knowsley and Sefton, Diocese of Liverpool

Ven Karen Best, Archdeacon of Manchester, Diocese of Manchester 

Ven Jonathan Sedgwick, Archdeacon of Southwark

Canon Michael Rawson, Sub-Dean of Southwark Cathedral

Revd Buff Forbes Stone, Environment Officer, Diocese of Chichester

Revd Dr Myra Blyth, Deacon, New Road Baptist Church, Oxford

Revd Philip Clements-Jewery, Baptist Minister

Revd Vanessa Elston, Diocese of Southwark

Revd James Grote, Christian Climate Action