Almost 600 scientists, health professionals, and conservationists have written to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging him to reject plans to develop the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea. The letter was sent ahead of Burnham’s upcoming meeting with former US President Donald Trump in New York. Trump has previously encouraged the UK to increase oil drilling, suggesting it could boost the country’s wealth. The experts argue that approving Rosebank would contradict climate science and risk the UK breaching its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, both domestically and internationally. The call comes amid reports that the UK government may approve new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Plans for the Jackdaw gas field, located 150 miles east of Aberdeen, could begin as early as this month, according to the BBC and The Guardian. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is also expected to approve the Rosebank project in the coming months. Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea, is located about 80 miles northwest of the Shetland Islands and is estimated to produce over 250 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions—equivalent to 70% of the UK’s annual emissions. A recent report estimated that the environmental damage caused by the fossil fuels from Rosebank could cost between £119 billion and £336 billion over the next few decades, far exceeding the £28.7 billion the UK would gain from the project. The experts highlighted the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, noting that the past 11 years have been the warmest on record. This summer brought record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts, with extreme weather costing the UK over £4.4 billion. They warned that Rosebank would not lower energy costs or significantly improve energy security, as most of the extracted fossil fuels would be exported. The scientists also pointed out that communities are already struggling with rising costs, health risks from heatwaves, and land loss from wildfires. Approving Rosebank, they said, would worsen these challenges and pose a threat to national security. Among the signatories are prominent figures such as Emeritus Professor Joanna Haigh from Imperial College London, Professor Elizabeth Robinson from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change, and Professor Paul Behrens from the University of Oxford. Prof Haigh emphasized that the science is clear and that the UK must avoid new oil and gas extraction to meet climate goals. Prof Robinson warned that approving Rosebank would trap communities in a cycle of climate-related suffering. Separately, 150 climate scientists recently urged the UK government to require fossil fuel companies to offset some of the carbon emissions from North Sea drilling as a condition for new licenses. The UK Department of Energy has not commented on speculation but stated that the North Sea remains a key national asset. Officials said oil and gas will continue to play a role in the UK’s energy system for decades, alongside a transition to clean energy to protect jobs and address the climate crisis. Any decision will consider all relevant evidence, including environmental assessments and public input received during the consultation process.