I'm finally taking myself seriously and treating The Green Fix like an (anticapitalist) business

Also, the UK is approving a disastrous oil field. Here's what you can do about it.

“And what business structure do you have in mind for The Green Fix?”

“It’s not a business.” I said it too fast, it came out sharp. I tried to redeem myself. “I don’t want endless profit, I mean. Because our economic structure is broken, obviously. It’ll be a degrowth-style business.”

I can hear, or maybe I project, scepticism in the measured silence of my Business Mentor. He thinks I’m naive. I should explain degrowth again. 

I tried again. “I’m anti-capitalist.” Oh god that’s worse. I’m going to be written off as an angry activist. I am an angry activist.

But apparently I’m also a woman entrepreneur. See, I’m in Spain for a month. On a fellowship for women to launch their businesses, of all things.

I don’t know what a fellowship is and I don’t know how to run a business. Obviously. If I did, I wouldn’t be making posts about earning less than minimum wage in my freelancing role. 

It’s been three years since The Green Fix launched and I never put a paywall up on the content - and I never will. We can’t afford more barriers to climate action and transparent information. 

But the hours I’ve sunk in, that the whole team has sunk in - rushing to protests for interviews, filling venues in Brussels, late night editing and fact-checking Every Damn Link - we do it because we care, but caring has never paid my rent. How much longer will I undervalue what we do, will I undervalue my own energy and time and that of my team?

Amidst the overwhelming work, and my knee-jerk aversion to anything Business, I failed to see the value in taking The Green Fix seriously as an organisation. Failed to see the opportunity to care better and collaborate.

So that’s why I’m here. To find funding and partnerships for The Green Fix and convert from being a random newsletter on the internet, to an organisation (probably a climate communications consultancy, seeing as that’s what I do anyway, but it’s all TBD). You know, the kind of thing that actually receives funding and sponsors. 

We want more activists on tables in pubs, not home doomscrolling. Image: Martina Razzaboni

We want to do so much - collaborative climate drinks in Brussels and other cities, workshops for activists, provide more accessible content in more formats, work together with NGOs on communication campaigns - but we can’t do it alone. So here are opportunities to build something with us:

• We are looking for funders and partners. Our ideas outstrip our budget and capacity. We know from the climate drinks and the growing audience that there are too few spaces for the climate movement to connect and collaborate. We want to create those spaces, through newsletters, articles and events. If you’re interested in working together - even if you’re not sure how yet - reach out at wearethegreenfix@gmail.com. 

• We are looking for guest writers! Activists, researchers, campaigners - all are welcome to share their stories and experiences in the climate movement. I want to pass over the mic to new voices in the introduction. Fill in this form to show interest (more details on the form). 

I don’t know what happens next. That’s the mark of the modern day. But I hope that even in trying to make The Green Fix and climate activism work financially sustainable, I can help set a precedent to say our time and our work is worth something. Trying, after all, has always been better than any alternative.

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What’s Going On?

• EU reaches deal banning ‘climate-neutral’ product claims.
  Related: How companies rely on offsets to reach net-zero (and why it doesn’t work).

• Europe’s banks helped fossil fuel firms raise more than €1tn from global bond markets.
  Related: An interview with oil CEO and head of COP28.

• World’s electricity supply close to ‘peak emissions’ due to growth of wind and solar.
  Related: Environmental groups take legal action against fossil fuel company TotalEnergies for their destructive oil project in Uganda and Tanzania.

• Industrial agriculture lobbyists have been in “meeting blitz” with influential MEPs during reforms to climate and nature laws.
  Related: New research finds 90% of major food and agriculture companies don’t do enough to farm sustainably or provide healthy food.

• Major offsetting project still ongoing even after denouncement as greenwashing.
  Related: Climate litigation is increasing as government action falters.

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Focus On… #StopRosebank campaign

Green Fix Assistant Editor Issy Pountney speaks to Lucy, activist with the #StopRosebank campaign in the UK.

Lucy (far right) with other #StopRosebank campaigners. Edinburgh, October 2023. Photo: Issy Pountney

What is Rosebank? 

Lucy: “Rosebank is the biggest undeveloped oil field in the North Sea, off the coast of the Shetland islands, in Scotland. It’s owned by Equinor, a Norwegian state-owned oil company, Canadian oil company Suncor Energy, and British oil and gas company Ithaca, which was part-acquired by an Israeli investment firm in 2022.

If [Rosebank] gets developed, it will produce the equivalent of the combined emissions of the 28 lowest income countries in a year, that includes the equivalent emissions of around 700 million people - that is a ridiculous amount of emissions!”

The UK, which is the second biggest oil and gas producer in Europe after Norway, says it is committed to reaching net zero by 2050.

Just 24 hours before the final decision was taken, the International Energy Agency published that no new oil and gas exploration should take place to keep global heating under 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Rosebank also harms protected marine areas. The pipeline needed to transport the tiny gas reserves in Rosebank would cut through a specially protected area of the North Sea, the Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt. Such industrial activity on the seabed could potentially harm this fragile ecosystem… The project also poses a potential threat to protected species including a number of different species of whale, dolphin and seabirds.

“Overall it's really really bad!”

Why has the UK government approved it then?

Lucy: “The UK government claims that by approving oil and gas licenses to improve energy security and that we need oil to be produced to lower bills. But this is bullshit. The price of the gas that heats our homes, and the petrol that fills our cars is set on the international market. 

Most of the oil from the Rosebank oil field will likely be exported - last year the UK exported 75% of its oil. The UK doesn’t even have capacity to process it so it will have little to no impact on oil prices. Also, the oil won’t even be out of the ground for at least five years, so the impacts of it wouldn’t touch the energy crisis we’re currently experiencing!” 

“Rosebank will do nothing to lower fuel bills or boost UK energy security. Most of this oil will be shipped abroad and then sold back to us at whatever price makes the oil and gas industry the most profit. [...] This government should be prioritising making sure no pensioner, or family with small children is living in a cold, damp home this winter, not handing billions in tax breaks to obscenely wealthy foreign companies.”
Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift

“Most of the field is being built thanks to a loophole in the Windfall tax. This means that 91% of the cost of the field for Equinor will be money that they’re getting from a tax subsidy of £3.75bn - essentially a massive tax write off. The UK taxpayer is bankrolling Rosebank. 

The money that is currently subsidising this project could be used much more effectively if it was invested in local renewable energy projects, investing in energy infrastructure which could improve energy security much sooner, whilst also being better for the environment!”

So if it’s already approved, what do we do now?

Lucy: “It’s been given a green light by the regulators, but the oil won’t actually start flowing for at least five years, and maybe longer than a decade, so there’s still so much for us to do!

When we won with #StopCambo, we didn’t convince the government to revoke the licence, we actually convinced Shell that it wasn’t a ‘safe’ investment because they were increasingly concerned about the scale of the opposition, visible through protests, and so, the capacity of government policy to change on the project. 

The Rosebank oil field approval is a glaring act of environmental betrayal. It’s not just a project; it's a ticking time bomb for our climate [...] This isn’t just a decision; it's a declaration of war against our planet. And it's infuriating!
Bryce Goodall, Stop Rosebank Coalition

We’re planning to do a similar campaign with #StopRosebank, by building strong public and legal opposition to the project. We want to make this investment as insecure for the companies involved as possible. 

This is already working: last week, the Scottish First Minister, Hamza Yousaf, said that he opposes the UK government’s decision on Rosebank, which is a great first step! 

There is also going to be a legal challenge. It’s still in the early stages, but campaigning organisation UpLift will be taking the UK government to court over the Rosebank license.

How can people outside the UK support the campaign?

Lucy: “We’re currently trying to build networks to help the opposition in the UK and Norway to coordinate the campaign. If you’re based in Norway and are able to help, or know groups we should be working with, reach out to us!

We’ve also worked with MEPs in the EU to call on both the Norwegian and UK governments to stop Rosebank, and we rely on public support when we run those campaigns.

Sarah McArthur, a campaigner with UK Youth Climate Coalition at the #StopRosebank rally in Scotland speak out. Video credit: Issy Pountney.

A big part of this is the other international campaigns against Equinor and fossil fuel projects generally. The more campaigns we win, the bigger the threat we are! In Australia and Canada big campaigns have already won - two Equinor-owned big oil fields have been cancelled or paused, and currently there is a similar campaign in Argentina. So research your local area, identify fossil fuel projects and organise!”

“The earth doesn't need more oil fields; it needs more courageous leaders willing to prioritise our planet over profit. The time for change is now, and we must stand united against decisions that push us backwards, instead of propelling us forward into a sustainable future."
Dean Bhekumuzi Bhebhe of Don’t Gas Africa

The UK campaign Oily Money Out are taking to the streets across Europe for a week of talks, workshops and protests from 14 to 19 October. Find out how you can take part here.

You can follow the Rosebank campaign on Twitter and Instagram @StopCambo.

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So Now What Do I Do?

LEARN MORE

• Today! Join this hybrid event on the geopolitics of degrowth in Europe at 14h CEST. (And a similar talk on the 17 Oct).

• What’s Europe’s role in delivering a decarbonised future? Join this European Environmental Bureau webinar tomorrow for the deep-dive.

• Alya Annabi has made this giant directory of climate resources online, including job boards and online communities.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

• The UN Climate Action awards are open! Youth activists under 35 are invited to apply by 15 October.

• The #CreateCOP28 challenge is looking for creative submissions designed to spark conversation about the climate crisis. Deadline 16 October..

• Apply for the Global Leadership Challenge for the chance to join 100 young leaders in a 5-day challenge addressing scarcity. Deadline 1 November.

CHANGE THE SYSTEM

• Young creatives interested in combining art and activism can apply for a one-week residential ‘artivism’ training in the run-up to the 2024 elections. Apply by 15 October.

• Apply to join the UN Youth Advisory board on sustainable urban development. Deadline 15 October.

• Working on climate justice and digital rights? Apply for the paid Green Web Foundation Fellowship by the 31 October!

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By the way…

The Green Fix offers low-cost sponsored slots on the newsletter. Book your slot by emailing wearethegreenfix@gmail.com.

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Stay in the loop

You can follow the Green Fix on Twitter @TheGreenFix, Instagram @thegreenfix_ and LinkedIn. You can also connect with Cass Hebron (Editor) on Instagram @coffee_and_casstaways and LinkedIn.