A coalition of Catholic leaders and organisations has written to the prime minister urging the government not to approve the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea, arguing that the project would undermine the UK's climate commitments and harm future generations.
In an open letter, the signatories say the decision on Rosebank is a pivotal one that will have "profound implications across generations". They urge the government to reject new oil and gas drilling and instead accelerate the transition to cleaner sources of energy.
They say approving the project would lock the UK into decades of continued fossil fuel production at a time when climate scientists say new oil and gas expansion is incompatible with limiting global warming.
The letter describes climate change as both an environmental and social issue, saying its impacts are already being felt around the world, including in the UK, with the greatest burden falling on those who have contributed least to the problem.
The signatories write that Catholic social teaching links care for creation with care for people, particularly those who are most vulnerable. They also offer prayers for the prime minister, saying they hope the government will lead with "courage, compassion and a commitment to justice".
They also question whether the development would improve the UK's long-term energy security, arguing that much of the oil produced would be refined overseas and sold on international markets rather than used domestically.
Instead, the letter calls on ministers to invest in green industries that would support workers and communities while helping the UK meet its climate goals.
The intervention comes as the government considers whether to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields following fresh assessments.
On Friday, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney said the "critical transition" needed to meet climate targets must be taken into account when decisions are made on new North Sea developments. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said any projects would need to be compatible with the UK's journey to net zero, adding that the necessary assessments were for the UK government to undertake.
The Catholic leaders say the UK has both a historic responsibility and an opportunity to show international leadership by pursuing a just transition away from fossil fuels.
The letter concludes by quoting Pope Leo XIV, who recently said: "God will ask us if we have cultivated and cared for the world that he created for the benefit of all and for future generations, and if we have taken care of our brothers and sisters."