25.08.26
Speaking to your mp about oil and gas
An end to new oil and gas is on the horizon. We need as many MPs as possible speaking out in favour of ban on new licences for exploration to get this commitment over the line.
Speaking directly to your local MP is a really impactful way to urge them to act on this important issue. This page walks you through the process of setting up a meeting, points you might want to cover, and questions that might crop up.
Get in touch at [email protected] before your meeting, and we can chat about the most impactful action you can ask your MP to take.
You can find out who your local MP is and their voting record at https://www.theyworkforyou.com/. Simply enter your postcode. You can find out how they voted on environmental issues, giving you a sense of their views on oil and gas and the ocean.
Remember, if your MP has different views to you, it is their job to listen to and address the concerns of their constituents, so all meetings are worthwhile.
Call or email your MP’s constituency office using the contact details provided on their parliament webpage (enter your postcode here). You can then arrange an appointment to meet your MP.
It’s great if you can personalise why you care about this issue – what about protecting our ocean from oil and gas matters most to you?
Some key marine impacts of oil and gas you might cover:
At the exploration stage, extremely loud airgun surveys are used to search for oil, threatening to deafen whales and other species that rely on their hearing to survive. These airguns are so loud they can be heard up to 2,500 miles from the source under some conditions. A ban on new exploration would be a major step forward in ending this suffering.
In 2025, there were over 640 oil and chemical spills into UK seas from fossil fuel developments. This released over 118 tonnes of oil into the ocean, with significant spills taking place in our marine protected areas. These spills are a direct threat to marine mammals that come to the surface to breath and risk ingesting dangerous pollutants. Oil and chemicals also build up in the water, creating a toxic drip-feed that put UK seas under even more stress.
Oil and gas infrastructure like pipelines, rigs and wells damage the seabed. The Rosebank oilfield – which hasn’t been given permission to start drilling – has already built a pipeline through a marine protected area, designated to protect deep-sea sponge communities. These fragile, slow-growing ecosystems are vital for carbon storage and marine wildlife.
2025 saw marine heatwaves conditions in UK seas for more than 75% of the year, and 2026 has been another year of exceptional heat in our waters. This impacts marine life, degrading ecosystems and forcing species out of their usual habitats. What’s more, marine heatwaves make life on land hotter as warm air is brought inland, making our coastal communities feel the impact of extreme heat even more harshly.
The Energy Independence Bill is due to be introduced in parliament soon – this piece of legislation could put a permanent end to new licences for oil and gas exploration. The most important actions your MP can take are engaging in this bill and speaking out in Parliament against new oil and gas.
You can ask your MP to:
- • Attend the second reading of the Energy Independence Bill and support an end to new oil and gas licences
- • Attend relevant debates and speak out on the topic
- • Submit written questions on the marine impacts of oil and gas
We can advise you on the most impactful action based on when you’re meeting your MP. Get in touch at [email protected].
Decisions around oil and gas are reserved, meaning your MP in Westminster can engage directly in the process around energy laws and policy. It’s still great to engage other representatives, as all support and pressure is beneficial. You can ask your other local representatives to speak out in support of UK Parliament introducing an end to new oil and gas licences.