UK Greenlights Jackdaw Gas Field, Defying Climate Pledges Amid Energy Crisis
The UK government approved the Jackdaw natural gas field in the North Sea on October 21, 2026, reversing a 2024 moratorium. Prime Minister Andy Burnham justified the move as essential for energy security amid rising costs from the Iran war, while announcing a £2 billion fund to support renewables. Environmentalists criticized the decision as a betrayal of net-zero commitments, noting it precedes a UN climate summit in Turkey.