The economic insanity of North Sea oil and gas

Want to restore the planet's ecosystems and see your impact in monthly videos? The first 100 people to join Planet Wild will get their first month for free https://www.planetwild.com/r/simonclark/join/3 and use code SIMON3! A great many people are trying to convince you that expanding drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea will improve our energy security and affordability. They are wrong, for reasons that I can explain. REFERENCES 1. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/25/philippine-president-declares-energy-emergency-as-impact-of-iran-war-felt 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/building-the-north-seas-energy-future/building-the-north-seas-energy-future-consultation-document-accessible-webpage 3. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/united-kingdom/crude-oil-production 4. https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/mar/11/oil-prices-asian-shares-rise-iea-reserve-release-business-live-news-updates 5. linkedin.com/in/tessa-khan-a42b6a48/ 6. https://www.westwoodenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Westwood-OEUK-UKCS-Outlook-Summary-Report-June-2025.pdf 7. https://e360.yale.edu/digest/world_warm_8_degrees_fossil_fuel_reserves_climate_change 8. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-security-assessment-on-global-biodiversity-loss-ecosystem-collapse-and-national-security/national-security-assessment-on-global-ecosystems-accessible-version 9. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/03/23/ed-miliband-accused-net-zero-fanaticism-north-sea-oil/ 10. https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-nine-false-or-misleading-myths-about-north-sea-oil-and-gas/ 11. https://www.nstauthority.co.uk/media/nupk5sx1/emissions-intensity-of-producing-natural-gas-factsheet-sept-2025.pdf 12. https://www.desmog.com/2024/06/04/nigel-farage-reform-uk-party-2-3-million-fossil-fuel-interests-climate-deniers-polluters-since-2019-election/ 13. https://www.desmog.com/2026/03/24/kemi-badenoch-accepted-7500-retreat-from-neil-record-net-zero-watch/ 14. https://www.irena.org/News/pressreleases/2025/Jul/91-Percent-of-New-Renewable-Projects-Now-Cheaper-Than-Fossil-Fuels-Alternatives 15. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-25/uk-s-renewables-output-hits-record-helping-to-blunt-iran-shock 16. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-go-further-and-faster-in-becoming-energy-secure 17. https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/03/05/EFDTBJWO5NEGNBA7KKH4CWMPNM/ You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys ---------- II ---------- More about me - https://www.simonoxfphys.com/ My second channel - https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata My book - https://geni.us/firmament Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark ---------- II ---------- Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Some stock footage courtesy of Getty. Edited by Luke Negus. Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon: bitreign33 , Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard. Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Ben Curtis, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, Tom Oldfield. Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Andersson, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Gabriele Siino, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, idris, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, Jack Fretwell, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, Joachim Murat, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Matthew H, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentino, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Alvarez, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tom Wilson, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tony, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Youri Hubaut, Zoey O'Neill.