Ending offshore drilling licences

That this House considers that the awarding of new offshore drilling licences is at odds with the UK’s national and international net zero commitments; notes the warnings of climate scientists and the United Nations Secretary General that the window for limiting global warming to 1.5C will close in five to six years; further notes that existing offshore drilling licences are estimated to cover almost one billion barrels of undiscovered reserves and that more than 80% of existing North Sea oil production is exported; recognises that 2023 was calculated to be the hottest year since records began, with July setting a new global temperature record that was immediately surpassed by August; accepts the UN’s judgment that the Global South will suffer worst from the disastrous consequences of exceeding 1.5C of global warming but has contributed least to it; calls on the Government to end new offshore drilling and exploration immediately; and further calls on the Government to commit to the termination of existing licences within the next five years.