‘Hold the Line on Rosebank’ – campaigners target parliament as oil field decision looms

[Fossil Free London protesters across the Thames from parliament hold a red ribbon and a sign saying Hold The Line #StopRosebank Rosebank]

Campaigners from Fossil Free London formed a human red line along the riverbank directly across from Westminster on 3 March. All dressed in red, they held a long red ribbon and signs reading ‘Hold the Line’ and ‘Stop Rosebank’.

The demonstration comes as the government prepares to decide the fate of the Rosebank [oil field][1]. It’s the [largest undeveloped oil field in the North Sea][2]. However, the [Scottish courts overturned its original approval][3] in January 2025.

The court ruling demanded that the project’s primary owner, Norwegian state oil giant Equinor, [provide a fuller assessment of the project’s climate impacts][4] before any approval could proceed. Critics argue that burning Rosebank’s total reserves would produce [more carbon dioxide than the world’s 28 lowest-income countries emit][5] in a year combined. Also, the [vast majority of the oil would go for export][6]. So it wouldn’t be lowering UK energy bills or improving energy security.

The Rosebank development would also [hand substantial tax relief from the public purse to Equinor][7]. Equinor’s profits flow largely into Norway’s sovereign wealth fund. A [share of profits would also go to the Delek Group, an Israeli fuel conglomerate][8]. The UN has flagged this company for human rights violations in Palestine.

Joanna Warrington, spokesperson for Fossil Free London, said:

> Whilst people across the country are watching their bills skyrocket and extreme weather events and climate disasters fill their phone screens: our government stands at a crossroads.
> 
> At this point in climate collapse, approving any new oil and gas project is tantamount to climate denial. It is like a doctor diagnosing a patient with lung cancer and handing them a cigarette.
> 
> A red line must be drawn. Kier Starmer, stop Rosebank.

*Featured image via Fossil Free London*

By [The Canary][9]

[1]: https://www.thecanary.co/topics/fossil-fuels/
[2]: https://www.stopcambo.org.uk/updates/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-rosebank-oil-field
[3]: https://www.iom3.org/resource/rosebank-oil-field-consent-overturned-in-scotland.html
[4]: https://www.iom3.org/resource/rosebank-oil-field-consent-overturned-in-scotland.html
[5]: https://www.ssb.no/_attachment/404602/
[6]: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/petroleum-chapter-3-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes
[7]: https://www.upliftuk.org/post/rosebank-private-profit-public-risk
[8]: https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/norway-equinor-sued-over-failure-to-conduct-due-diligence-re-its-links-to-delek-group-reported-as-operating-in-illegal-israeli-settlements-providing-fuel-to-idf/
[9]: https://www.thecanary.co/author/thecanary/


https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2026/03/03/hold-the-line-on-rosebank/