THE Scottish government must not “shirk responsibility” on the Rosebank oil and gas field and should publicly oppose it, campaigners demanded today.

Environmental group Uplift issued the demand as latest figures showed that carbon emissions in Scotland had fallen by an estimated 39 million tonnes between 2023 and 2024 — amounting to a 1 per cent drop.

Campaigners warn that if Rosebank — Britain’s largest untapped oil and gas field at an estimated 300 million barrels — was given the green light it could pump six times that amount into the atmosphere on its own.

Papers from Equinor, whose joint venture with Shell — Adura — owns Rosebank, reveal that the field west of Shetland is estimated to generate lifetime emissions equivalent to a staggering 254 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Catrina Randall took aim at the Scottish government’s support of new fields should they meet climate compatibility tests and ensure energy security.

She said: “The Scottish government needs to stop hiding behind the sham of a so-called climate compatibility. It’s clear that any climate test that allows new drilling on this scale wouldn’t be worth the paper it’s written on.”

Stop Rosebank group lead campaigner Lauren MacDonald said the figures “expose the enormous damage a super-emitter like Rosebank would cause.”

She called on First Minister John Swinney to follow the lead of his predecessors Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf lead and publicly oppose the British government licensing the field.

Ms MacDonald said: “The Scottish government must not shirk responsibility for the damage it would cause.

“Climate change is already driving up food prices and straining water supplies across Scotland, while younger generations face a future of more extreme storms, wildfires and disruption.

“The Scottish government must put the public’s need for a safe climate ahead of the profits of multinational oil companies and oppose Rosebank.”

A Scottish government spokesperson responded: “We are clear that the UK government should approach decisions for North Sea oil and gas projects on a rigorously evidence-led, case-by-case basis with climate compatibility and energy security key considerations.”

The British government said: “Our priority is to deliver a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills and good long-term jobs.”