The government has rejected the advice of parliament's Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) to support a ban on drilling for oil in the Arctic region.

In its hardhitting Protecting the Arctic report published last year, the EAC had called for a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, at least until stronger safeguards are put in place.

But the government has now ruled out such a move, telling MPs that while it is aware of the potential impacts of an oil spill and the risks of drilling, this just means that standards should be sufficiently high.

Yet information obtained by Greenpeace apparently shows that UK officials have sought to water down key EU regulations designed to prevent an environmental disaster like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas, who sits on the EAC, said:

"The revelation that the UK is pushing for weaker regulations at EU level while claiming to support 'the use of the highest environment and drilling standards in the Arctic' is a worrying indication that the government is playing fast and loose with the future of this unique and fragile region.

"By failing to follow the EAC’s advice to impose a moratorium on Arctic drilling, or to recognise the potential risks of oil exploration in such extreme conditions – not to mention the climate impact of endless fossil fuel exploitation – Cameron’s coalition is putting the interests of the oil giants before protection of one of the planet’s most environmentally important regions."

ENDS