True stewardship does not mean economic surrender
Climate change is a real issue and challenge that we face. I also understand that many people here will ask, ‘How is it affecting us?’.
It is a fair question and deserves a fair answer. Here in Shetland, we can look out of our windows and most could be forgiven for thinking it is not affecting us. That is especially true at this time of year, as the darker mornings and evenings are upon us and winter is just around the corner.
Just recently, however, we have seen a report published showing that the local puffin population is declining and is set to decrease further. This decline is linked to the falling population of sandeels, a vital part of a puffin’s diet.
‘Significant’ decline in puffins predicted due to climate change
Again, many may still ask, ‘why do we care about the puffins?’ Perhaps some will be thinking, ‘well, puffins don’t affect me; they don’t affect my job or my life’.
We need to look through a wider lens and view Shetland as a whole. Annually, Shetland brings in over one hundred million pounds from tourism. Year after year, surveys show a top reason and attraction to Shetland is our wildlife.
So whether it be the stuffed toys, the bags of puffin-branded confectionery or the puffins themselves, they play an integral part in our local culture and economy.
There is a myth being spoken by the cynics that we must choose between a clean environment and a prosperous economy. I do not buy that theory and I do not believe you do either. The same sea that brings us the beauty of our wildlife, brings us the energy that fuels our lives. True stewardship is not about doing less; it is about doing things better, with the same grit and innovation that built these islands.
We stand at a crossroads, not just for the future of our islands, but for the resilience of our entire nation. For too long, the political debate has been paralysed by this false choice. It is the false claim that we must either destroy our economy in order to save the planet, or ignore our ecological responsibilities to keep the lights on. I, again, reject that division entirely.
Allow me to reiterate: the challenges of a changing climate are real. We as Shetlanders, who live and work at the mercy of the North Sea, understand the vital importance of conservation and stewardship better than any government, whether in Edinburgh or London. True stewardship, however, does not mean economic surrender, nor does it mean abandoning the very industries that keep our communities alive, our schools open and our shops thriving.
To those who demand we shut down fields like Rosebank, I ask: where will our energy come from? If we do not explore, drill and extract our own oil and gas under our own environmental standards, we will simply end up importing it from overseas. This process burns more carbon on tankers to get it here, while exposing our citizens to skyrocketing bills and freezing winters. That is not environmental progress – it is a direct threat to our national security and a betrayal not only of the people of Shetland, but also of the rest of the nation.
Our path forward must be one of energy security and self-reliance. We must continue to explore and develop our domestic oil and gas resources as a matter of national survival, using the wealth generated to fund a pragmatic, managed transition that leaves no community behind.
We do not need top-down mandates or punitive windfall taxes from central governments that do not yet fully understand our way of life. We need government to take a back seat and allow private enterprise to do what it does best: lead, adapt and innovate.
The government has been treating the private sector like the obstacle to the green transition, while the government itself has been the true barrier. Illogically high taxes have accomplished nothing but the discouragement of investment and the stagnation of our economy, stifling the innovation that will ultimately deliver us a renewable future.
This perspective does not make the government an enemy, but rather a misguided body that could be led differently.
Shetland has the skills, the industry and the resilience to lead. Let us choose a future built on economic strength, national security and an unwavering local pride.
Danny C. Parker
Delting
