Gas extraction north of the Wadden Islands is permitted, but must not continue, argue the mayors Ineke van Gent of Schiermonnikoog and Jürgen Akkermann of the German Borkum.
North of the Wadden Islands of Schiermonnikoog and Borkum, oil and gas production company ONE-Dyas is threatening to build a new gas platform. State Secretary Vijlbrief recently issued a permit for this. Such a gas platform is no longer of this time. Rather invest in the generation and storage of sustainable, renewable energy; there lies the future.
As mayors, we therefore cordially invite the investors of exploration and production company ONE-Dyas to our beautiful islands to talk about sustainable energy investments. Spend your capital green and make a substantial difference for your and our (grand)children and leave the gas in the North Sea. Take your social responsibility and do not let individual wealth be at the expense of the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Unique underwater area
For the next 35 years, everyone threatens to look to the past from the beach of Schiermonnikoog and Borkum: to a gas platform. Eight years before the Paris climate goals are to be achieved, State Secretary Vijlbrief of Economic Affairs gave ONE-Dyas permission at the beginning of June to drill for gas in a small gas field north of Schiermonnikoog that had not yet been mined.
The gas field is located in the unique underwater nature reserve Borkumse Stenen. A very vulnerable nature reserve with special reef structures that is already recognized as a Natura 2000 area in Germany. The State Secretary indicated that he had no choice but to grant the permit, but if everyone cooperates, we can (and must) change course.
The Dutch government and ONE-Dyas see gas drilling as an alternative to Russian gas and, moreover, necessary for the transition to a gas-free society. That’s an opportunity argument. The transition to a gas-free society will accelerate if pressure remains on the boiler and gas remains in the ground. We must ensure that we use less gas, not the same amount from other sources. We must save and invest sustainably in other energy sources and storage.
No solution for the reduction of Russian gas
The gas north of Schiermonnikoog is not a solution for the reduction of Russian gas at the moment. The platform still has to be built and pipes laid. We will be able to use the gas in two to three years at the earliest.
More than 400 scientists identified the sore spot at the beginning of June and spoke out against this gas extraction. They explained in great detail that we are in a climate emergency. This can be seen in the extreme weather conditions that we are already dealing with in the Netherlands and Germany.
We cannot afford to wait. We don’t need investors investing their money in fossil fuels to make quick profits, we need investors investing their money in renewable energy.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists come for nature
Finally, we point out the importance of the nature reserves where the gas platform is planned. The island communities welcome hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, who come for nature. Untouched nature and preservation of the sensitive Wadden Sea ecosystem form the basis for the economic survival and survival of the island municipalities. Time and again, companies are given permission for (mining) activities in and around the Wadden area, while it remains unclear what the effect of all those activities is.
The permit for gas extraction is available for inspection until 15 July 2022 and we can initiate a lawsuit. The smallest municipality in the Netherlands and the German municipality of Borkum call on the State Secretary and the investors of ONE-Dyas to jointly discuss investments in sustainable energy sources and storage, instead of investments that are no longer up to date. The Provinces of Fryslân and Groningen also wholeheartedly support the call to enter into dialogue.
Ineke van Gent is mayor of Schiermonnikoog
Jürgen Akkermann is mayor of the German Borkum