Trouble Flaring Up?

The UK's current government says it has a 'pragmatic approach to net zero'. It has just given 24 new North Sea oil and gas extraction licences to 17 petrochemical companies. Government claims this will improve the UK's energy security, as it will reduce the 'need' to import 'foreign' oil and gas. This is, of course, nonsense as any fossil fuels extracted will be refined in Europe, before being sold on the world's open market. The UK has essentially sacrificed any (very tentative) claim to world leadership in the fight against climate change, for an economic fairy tale. The UK won't have 'first call' on North Sea oil and gas. Energy costs in the country will be unchanged by this extra extraction (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/31/grossly-irresponsible-uk-hands-out-24-new-north-sea-oil-and-gas-licences). It now appears that the UK's government were so desperate to quickly grant North Sea exploration licenses, they gave one to an environmental vandal, whose company had been fined £150,000, in 2022, for illegally flaring methane (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/feb/02/tory-donors-oil-and-gas-company-given-north-sea-licence-after-150000-fine). Flaring is the burning off of methane gas, as oil is extracted. The company in question burned 262 tonnes of methane without getting prior consent. Flaring is a complete waste of an energy resource as well as generating lots of 'greenhouse gases'. This would be mainly carbon dioxide but some of the methane (which is 80 times more potent) will be likely to escape. The man concerned, however, had made a political donation of more than £480,000. It seems that, if you make a large political donation, any number of environmental sins can be forgiven. 'Pragmatic' doesn't really seem to be an accurate description of UK government policy!