More than half of Scots think North Sea drilling is more important than hitting net zero

Matt Gibson
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:17:13 +0000

More than half of Scots believe it is more important to drill in the North Sea than to hit Net Zero targets, polling suggests.

YouGov research found that 51 per cent said it was preferable to ensure oil and gas extraction continued for as long as possible, compared to 36 per cent who felt the Scottish Government should prioritise its carbon targets.

Scotland has pledged to hit Net Zero by 2045 – five years earlier than the rest of the UK.

The survey also revealed that Scots were more opposed to the ban on North Sea drilling than the rest of the UK.

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Some 45 per cent opposed the ban while 37 per cent supported it. In England and Wales opinions are more evenly divided, with 39 per cent against the ban and 38 per cent in favour.

Labour made clear in the 2024 election campaign it would not issue new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea – a stance strongly opposed by the Tories and Reform UK.

YouGov found the gap between Scotland and England and Wales was most evident between those who voted for either Labour or the Liberal Democrats in 2024.

The pollsters, who questioned 1,217 adults in Scotland and 1,919 in England and Wales, found 48 per cent of Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters in Scotland are against the ban on new oil and gas developments, while less than a third of their counterparts south of the border take this view In Scotland, opposition to the ban is highest amongst Tory and Reform voters – with 59 per cent of supporters of both parties against it.

Just over half those who voted Liberal Democrat (52 per cent) are opposed to the ban, along with 49 per cent of Scots who voted Labour in 2024.

Almost half (47 per cent) of SNP supporters are also opposed to the ban on new oil and gas developments, with the research coming after John Swinney’s party appeared to soften its stance on the issue.

Previous SNP leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf had made clear their opposition to the development of fields such as Jackdaw to the east of Aberdeen, and Rosebank, off the coast of Shetland.

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But earlier this month, the First Minister indicated the current crisis in the Middle East has changed the circumstances surrounding domestic energy production, saying there is now a “much greater risk to our energy security” as a consequence.

The survey also asked what Scots felt was more important of the two issues – extracting all North Sea oil or meeting Net Zero by 2045.

More than half (51 per cent) said extracting North Sea oil, while 36 per cent opted for meeting the carbon targets.