Response to: The 1997 Celebrity Lecture for the Institute of Petroleum at Strathclyde University by Heinz Rothermund Managing Director of Shell UK Exploration and Production.

Strathclyde Univeristy, 20 May 1997

Responding to references Mr Rothermund made about Greenpeace and the campaign against oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier, Deputy Executive Director of Greenpeace, Chris Rose said: Heinz Rothermund has queried the entire basis for the expansion of his industry, he is agreeing with the logic of our campaign on the Atlantic Frontier by saying 'How far is it sensible to explore for and develop new hydrocarbon reserves, given that the atmosphere may not be able to cope with the greenhouse gases that will emanate from the utilisation of the hydrocarbon reserves discovered already?

Undoubtedly it is a dilemma'.

"He effectively admits that there is no scientific, political or moral justification for continued oil exploration.

"This is an extraordinary admission which must lead to a change in Government and oil industry policy.

"In response to Mr Rothermund's question about the management of sustainable development in light of social and economic considerations, he should join us in our call for a programme of solarising 50,000 UK homes and creating many thousands of jobs in the process".

"What is also needed, of course, is an international political regime to phase out fossil fuels and replace them with renewable energy sources and this is a task for Government which we hope Shell will join us in calling for."

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