The owner of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, Adura, has published a new report arguing that emissions from the project will "not materially influence" global warming, accounting for less than 0.02% of annual global greenhouse gases over its lifetime. The claim matters because the field's future depends on this assessment: a judge previously ruled that the UK government's consent for Jackdaw was unlawful, meaning fresh, more detailed climate analysis is required before production can proceed.

The updated 159-page Environmental Impact Assessment was requested by the regulator, Opred, after gaps were found in an earlier submission. Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway's Equinor, argues that using domestic Jackdaw gas instead of imported US liquefied natural gas would save the equivalent of four million tonnes of CO2, chiefly by avoiding liquefaction, transport and regasification. A previous version had estimated the field could produce up to 35.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent — around 90% of Scotland's annual emissions. The legal challenge was brought by environmental groups Uplift and Greenpeace, who, along with campaigners, want both Jackdaw and the Rosebank oil field rejected.