The government has been accused of sending mixed messages on climate change after refusing to halt new exploration licences for North Sea oil and gas.

Campaigners had urged the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy to follow the lead of Denmark and rule out new licences as part of a review launched last September.

Instead, the government says it's introducing what it calls a Climate Compatibility Checkpoint before each future oil and gas licensing round to "ensure licences awarded are aligned with wider climate objectives".

It says it will consider domestic demand for oil and gas and how the sector is reducing its emissions.

Critics of the initiative say it's at odds with the government's pledge to show leadership on the climate in the year the UK hosts the critical COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

The Climate Change Committee, the independent body which advises the government how to get to net zero, says oil and gas will continue to form part of the UK's energy mix on the road to achieving this goal by 2050.

The offshore oil and gas industry say they're pleased that has been recognised by the government.

Source - news.sky.com