The city caught in the middle of the big energy shift debate

SNP and Scottish Labour maintain a net zero target for Scotland set for 2045, reflecting ongoing policy debates over decarbonisation timelines.

The Scottish Parliament election campaign is underway, with the election scheduled for May 7, 2026; Reform UK campaigns on maximizing domestic fossil fuel production.

The ongoing 'just transition' theme appears in the Holyrood election campaign, highlighting policy gaps and regional impacts.

Publication of the article detailing Iona Macdonald’s experience and the broader debate over a just transition in Scotland and the UK.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband delivered a speech advocating a just transition and referencing science-based requirements for energy policy.

US President Donald Trump posted urging the UK to 'DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!' and 'AND, NO MORE WINDMILLS!' in a social media post, in the context of North Sea oil developments like Jackdaw and Rosebank.

Over the past decade, the UK oil and gas workforce (about half based in Scotland) fell by 70,000 to 115,000; renewables added about 39,000 posts. The transition is described as incomplete with policy instability cited as a factor.

North Sea production was just over one million BOE per day in 2024, indicating a mature and declining basin.

The renewables share of UK electricity was around 7% in 2010, rising to more than 50% in recent years according to government statements cited in the article.

Iona Macdonald graduates from Aberdeen University with a chemistry degree in 2000 and begins a career in the oil and gas industry.

North Sea production peaked at 4.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) as the period of high oil activity coincided with the early stages of many workers’ careers.