Shell oil spill - time to switch to renewable power18 August 2011
The biggest spill in the North Sea for over a decade asks serious questions of our oil dependence.
Shell - known for its poor environmental record - says over 1,300 barrels of oil may have already spilled into the sea.
Oil spills like the one at Shell's North Sea platform are just one of the risks fossil fuels pose to the environment.
Burning these fuels is leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - a key cause of climate change.
And they are expensive. Fossil fuels are declining, resulting in higher household fuel bills.
Sustainable energy without the hot air
The only way to protect our environment, and secure affordable energy supplies for the future, is by developing green and safe alternatives to dirty fossil fuels.
Friends of the Earth's Head of Science, Policy & Research, Mike Childs
Friends of the Earth is calling for Government investment in clean, renewable energy.
The UK has one of the richest sources of renewable energy in the world. Friends of the Earth analysis shows we could:
- Power all our electricity needs
with under a third of our offshore wind, wave and tidal resources - And export the rest
- Create 66,000 jobs
by 2020 through offshore wind alone.
The UK must generate 15% of all of our energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Help to ensure we meet this target by supporting a new wind farm at Bransford Bridge. This will supply the average electricity needs of 7,800 homes with clean and safe power.
© Paul Glendell
