
Credit: U.S. Coast Guard/EPI2oh/Flickr
06 May 2024
Oil companies pursue offshore drilling, touting lower emissions
Offshore drilling companies like Shell are increasing deepwater oil and gas extraction in the Gulf of Mexico, claiming it is a cleaner alternative than onshore operations due to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Oil companies argue that deepwater drilling is crucial for global energy needs and has a lower carbon footprint than onshore drilling.
- The Gulf of Mexico has experienced rising oil production, reversing the decline after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.
- Environmentalists are concerned about the industry's pivot back to fossil fuels, urging a faster shift to renewable energy.
Key quote:
“We’re not talking about stopping oil production today. But no matter how you look at it, there’s a really dire need to accelerate this shift to clean energy.”
— Brettny Hardy, a senior lawyer in the Oceans Program at Earthjustice
Why this matters:
As critical planetary tipping points loom large, a continued focus on fossil fuel extraction threatens progress toward climate goals. Read more: We don’t have time for another fossil fuel bridge.