Climate campaigners gathered outside Scotland’s first minister’s official residence in Edinburgh on October 31, 2026, using Halloween costumes and signs to protest new gas developments at Jackdaw and Peterhead.
Environmental campaigners gathered outside Bute House in Edinburgh on Saturday, October 31, 2026, staging a Halloween-themed protest against two recently approved fossil fuel projects. Demonstrators criticized the UK Government’s decision to allow production at the Jackdaw gas field and the Scottish Government’s approval of a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead.
The demonstration took place outside the official residence of Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney in Charlotte Square. Protesters wore Halloween masks and carried signs warning about the environmental consequences of continued fossil fuel development.
Organized by Friends of the Earth Scotland, the event followed a week of major energy decisions that environmental groups say could undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Halloween Costumes Highlight Climate Concerns
The protesters used Halloween imagery to draw attention to what they described as the frightening consequences of expanding oil and gas infrastructure.
Some participants wore masks resembling monsters, while others carried placards reading “fossil fuel ghouls” and “this decision will haunt you.” Several demonstrators sat on the steps outside Bute House during the gathering.
Friends of the Earth Scotland advertised the demonstration under the title Nothing Scarier Than Fossil Fuels. It was scheduled from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. and promoted as a family-friendly event where participants could bring children and costumes.
The Halloween theme allowed campaigners to connect familiar seasonal imagery with concerns about extreme weather, household energy costs, and the long-term effects of climate change.
Kate Whitaker, head of movement building at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the protest was intended to challenge government decisions that campaigners believe will worsen environmental risks.
“Fossil fuels are scary because of the harm they are already causing to millions of people,” Whitaker said in comments reported by the Press Association.
She accused political leaders of approving additional fossil fuel developments despite growing evidence of the damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Whitaker also criticized the Scottish Government for authorizing the Peterhead project, arguing that expanding gas-fired electricity generation would increase environmental risks.
Campaigners called for greater investment in renewable energy, improved public transportation, warmer homes, and employment opportunities in lower-carbon industries.
UK Government Approves Jackdaw Gas Field
One of the protest’s principal targets was the UK Government’s October 21 decision to authorize production at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.
The field is located east of Aberdeen and is being developed by Adura, a joint venture involving Shell and Equinor.
The North Sea Transition Authority granted development consent after Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh agreed that the project could proceed.
The decision followed a lengthy regulatory process involving environmental assessments and legal challenges.
The government expects Jackdaw to increase domestic gas production by approximately 6% at its peak. Officials say the project will contribute to energy security and help maintain employment in the offshore energy industry.
Government estimates indicate that the field could operate for up to 11 years and produce gas equivalent in energy content to approximately 40 million barrels of oil.
The developer estimates that the project could create 27 direct jobs and protect another 273 existing positions. It also projects an economic contribution of approximately £2.9 billion.
Those figures are forecasts rather than employment or revenue already delivered.
Supporters argue that producing natural gas domestically can reduce dependence on imports while Britain develops additional renewable energy resources.
However, environmental organizations maintain that expanding gas production creates additional emissions and risks extending reliance on fossil fuels.
The Jackdaw project had previously faced legal difficulties because its original environmental assessment did not fully consider emissions produced when the extracted gas was burned.
The UK Government subsequently introduced revised assessment requirements following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling involving fossil fuel development.
Regulators reconsidered the project under the updated framework before granting the latest consent.
Scottish Government Approves Peterhead Power Station
The second major issue was the Scottish Government’s October 27 approval of a new gas-fired electricity station at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.
Official records identify the development as the Peterhead Low Carbon Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station Project.
The proposed facility would have a maximum generating capacity of approximately 910 megawatts and would be built near the existing Peterhead Power Station.
The development is being advanced by SSE Thermal and Equinor, which intend to incorporate carbon capture technology.
That technology is designed to collect carbon dioxide from the power station’s exhaust gases before the emissions enter the atmosphere.
The developers say the proposed system could capture at least 90% of the carbon dioxide from the generation process.
However, that figure is a design target, not a demonstrated operating result for the proposed plant.
The project would also depend on the development of infrastructure to transport and permanently store captured carbon dioxide.
Supporters argue that a gas-fired power station equipped with carbon capture could provide dependable electricity when renewable generation is insufficient.
They also point to potential economic benefits for north-east Scotland, including an estimated 1,000 construction jobs and additional permanent employment.
Environmental campaigners dispute whether investing in another gas-burning facility is compatible with Scotland’s climate objectives.
Friends of the Earth Scotland described the approval as a serious failure of government environmental policy.
The group argues that carbon capture does not eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions and that the project would prolong dependence on natural gas.
Campaigners also question whether the proposed carbon capture infrastructure will become operational within the required timeframe.
Scottish Government Defends Its Climate Policies
The Scottish Government rejected suggestions that approving the Peterhead project meant abandoning its environmental commitments.
A government spokesperson said ministers remained committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
The spokesperson explained that the decision had considered potential effects on communities, wildlife, cultural heritage, and the wider environment.
Ministers also considered the combined environmental effects of related developments.
The government said the full reasoning behind the approval was contained in its official decision letter and declined to comment further.
Scotland’s climate policies aim to reduce emissions across electricity generation, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and industry.
Renewable energy, especially wind power, already plays an important role in the country’s electricity supply.
However, electricity system operators must also maintain sufficient generating capacity when wind speeds are low or demand rises.
Supporters of the Peterhead development argue that flexible gas generation could help meet those needs during the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Critics believe additional investment in electricity storage, renewable generation, grid infrastructure, and demand management would provide a more sustainable alternative.
The disagreement concerns both the environmental consequences of the project and the most practical way to maintain a reliable electricity supply.
Climate Campaigners Question New Fossil Fuel Investment
The Bute House demonstration also reflected a wider dispute over how quickly the United Kingdom should reduce its reliance on oil and natural gas.
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Scientific research has established that human-produced greenhouse gas emissions are the primary cause of recent global temperature increases.
Climate change increases the likelihood or severity of several types of extreme weather, although the effects vary by region and event.
Environmental groups argue that approving additional fossil fuel infrastructure risks making emissions reductions more difficult.
The UK Government maintains that natural gas will remain necessary during the energy transition, particularly for heating, industrial processes, and backup electricity generation.
Its October Jackdaw announcement also introduced plans for an Energy Wealth Fund, with an initial £2 billion commitment intended to support investment in renewable and lower-carbon industries.
Officials say that continuing production from existing licensed fields can support energy security while investment in cleaner technologies increases.
Campaigners disagree with the emphasis on further gas extraction and argue that government resources should focus on reducing fossil fuel demand.
The question of household energy costs is another area of disagreement.
Gas prices are influenced by international markets, production costs, supply arrangements, and changes in demand. Additional domestic production does not automatically guarantee lower household bills.
Similarly, the long-term cost of electricity from carbon-capture-equipped power stations depends on construction expenses, fuel prices, capture performance, and supporting infrastructure.
Protest Adds Pressure Ahead of Future Energy Decisions
The Halloween rally brought the disagreement over energy policy directly to the Scottish first minister’s official residence.
Although the Jackdaw approval was made by UK authorities and the Peterhead decision by Scottish ministers, campaigners targeted both projects as examples of continued fossil fuel investment.
Friends of the Earth Scotland has been involved in previous campaigns challenging new oil and gas developments, including legal disputes concerning offshore projects.
Saturday’s protest continued that activity through a public demonstration rather than a court hearing.
No verified attendance estimate was provided in the initial reports, and there was no confirmed announcement that either government intended to reconsider its approval because of the rally.
Both projects now face further practical steps as their developers move through their respective production and construction plans.
For Peterhead, the availability of carbon transport and storage infrastructure remains particularly important to the proposed operating model.
For Jackdaw, the latest authorization allows the developer to proceed with production under the applicable regulatory conditions.
The protesters left Bute House having made their opposition visible, while the two government decisions remained in place. The next developments will depend on project implementation, regulatory oversight, and any further legal or political challenges.
IMAGE: Source Own work Author Kim Traynor CC3