Christians use roses to remind chancellor the nation wants affordable energy

This morning, 6 members of Christian Climate Action attempted to deliver 100 paper roses to HM Treasury. It was to remind Rachel Reeves that one million people recently signed a petition asking the government to refuse approval for a new oilfield in UK waters.

The UK government is soon to make a decision to approve or reject extraction at Rosebank, the biggest undeveloped oil field in the UK. The oil from Rosebank would be sold on the international open market. This means it would do nothing to lower UK energy bills or reduce price volatility.

There’s an abundance of renewable energy in the UK. And this is how to build a resilient, reliable, affordable energy supply.

Earlier in the morning, the same Christians spread paper roses across the steps of HM Treasury. And they held signs with the words: ‘ONE MILLION SAY STOP ROSEBANK OILFIELD’ and ‘LABOUR MUST STOP ROSEBANK’. As they attempted to hand in the 100 roses, they also read out a letter to Rachel Reeves which included these lines:

Today we want to remind you of the million-strong petition that was handed into 10 Downing Street in April 2025.

That petition asked for an end to new drilling in the North Sea (including the Rosebank oilfield), a fast and fair transition for industry workers, a “safe” climate and affordable energy…. Each rose represents 10,000 people who signed that petition last year.

Those people did not want the UK to deepen our dependence on dirty & expensive fossil fuels. Therefore, we are asking you to represent their views in any cabinet decision related to the Rosebank Oilfield.

Rosebank would produce more CO2 than the 73 lowest-emitting countries do in a year. It would bust UK climate goals and is not compatible with a safe climate. Experts are clear: we already have enough oil and gas fields in production to meet our energy demands.

A bunch of real, London-grown roses, were also offered alongside the paper roses.

Christian activists speak against Rosebank

Judith Russenberger, of the Third Order, Society of St Francis, and one of those taking part, said:

As a Christian I am called to love my neighbour and not to imperil their future with the effects of a fossil fuel driven climate crisis.

If we do not take urgent action to rapidly curtail carbon emissions we will be condemning generations across the world to destructive weather patterns, diminishing food supplies, water shortages and the escalation of conflict.

Approving Rosebank is incompatible with any ambition to care for God’s creation.

Andy Hansen, a retired member of the British Council, said:

Clean energy is not just better for the planet – it’s cheaper, and more secure than dirty fossil fuels. The faster we move away from oil and gas, the faster we can protect people from rising bills and chaotic weather patterns.

Mark Francis, a retired ceramic scientist, said:

We’re at the Treasury today to remind Rachel Reeves – who clearly has a lot of influence – that 1 million people signed a petition asking this government to avoid deepening our dependence on dirty and expensive fossil fuels.

We want our government to stand up to the oil lobby, do the right thing for the UK, and reject Rosebank.

A spokesperson for Christian Climate Action said:

People want change: not the same rip-off energy system where oil giants walk off with massive profits while we’re left with higher bills, declining jobs and a worsening climate crisis.

Rosebank could result in a net loss of over hundreds of millions to the UK Treasury, thanks to the billions in generous tax breaks its owners would get from its development.

Rosebank has drawn widespread public opposition including over 1 million people, 700 scientists and experts, 200 organisations and celebrities, trade unionists, 400 faith leaders, MPs from every major political party, and 40 MEPs.

The paper roses were made by people across the country who do not want Rosebank to be granted approval. They included people from: Epsom, Much Wenlock, Dudley, Bristol, London, Horsham, Loughborough, Basingstoke, Manchester, Newbury and Bicester.

Featured image via Christian Climate Action / M Sanders