London--5 February 1996--Almost three quarters (74%) of the British public who are aware of the Brent Spar controversy believe Greenpeace should continue its campaign against the dumping of oil platforms, according to an Opinion Leader Research poll carried out for Greenpeace in the UK. Furthermore, 57% believe the Brent Spar should not have been dumped in the Atlantic (32% in favour). (1).
57% also backed Greenpeace rather than Shell and the UK Government in stopping the sinking of the Brent Spar. A clear majority of the public (57%) had heard of the controversy surrounding the Brent Spar; 41% had not. Only 17% believe that Greenpeace should not continue to oppose further sinking of other oil platforms at sea.
The 1,000 person national telephone poll was carried out between 26th and 27th January 1996.
Chris Rose, Campaign Director of Greenpeace UK said "This polls shows that the public knows its wrong to use the seas as an industrial dumping ground. The public will never accept it if the Government allows the oil industry to treat the seas as its rubbish dump. The sea should be for saving - not for dumping."
A report commissioned by the oil industry itself (the United Kingdom Offshore Operators' Association -- UKOOA) stated that the best environmental option for decommissioned oil installations was to bring them on shore for recycling (2).
Chris Rose said "The Government must listen to the public and expert advice to the oil industry itself. Mr Eggar [UK Minister of Energy] must pledge no North Sea installations should be dumped at sea."
A report commissioned by Greenpeace - entitled "A Case Study of Onshore Decommissioning Of North Sea Oil Strutures" - stated that over 95% of the Brent Spar could be recycled, using existing technology.(3)
Contact: page Adam Woolf on 01399 1133 no. 787076
1) All percentages quoted are for the public who are aware of the Brent Spar controversy. For further details of this opinion poll, call Opinion Leader Research on 0171 242 2222.
2) "An Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of Decommissioning Options for Oil and Gas Structures in the UK North Sea", Prepared for UKOOA. Written by Auris Environmental. Page 10-14
3) "A Case Study of Onshore Decommissioning of North Sea Oil Structures - The Brent Spar", commissioned by Greenpeace. Written by Jay Rutovitz. Produced as evidence to the House of Lords Trade and Industry Sub Committee on Decommissioning, October 1995.