The city caught in the middle of the big energy shift debate
Aberdeen, once known as Europe's oil capital, is grappling with the economic and social impacts of transitioning from oil and gas to renewable energy, as many experienced workers like chemist Iona Macdonald face unemployment or underemployment despite years in the industry. While politicians advocate for a 'just transition' to green energy, workers report a lack of support and opportunities, highlighting a gap between policy rhetoric and on-the-ground reality. The decline of North Sea oil production and slower growth in renewable jobs have raised concerns about the UK's ability to manage a fair and effective energy shift.
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The city caught in the middle of the big energy shift debate49 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJames CookScotland editorBBCWhen Iona Macdonald graduated from Aberdeen University in 2000 with a degree in chemistry, there was only one show in town. Iona recalls that she "inevitably slid into the oil and gas industry" where, like thousands of others, she built a successful and lucrative career.Back then, the sector was swimming in money, she remembers. "You would see a lot of Ferraris and Lamborghinis," says Macdonald of Aberdeen at the time.But after a quarter of a century, that journey - working both on and offshore as a production chemist and later a training manager - came to an abrupt halt when she was made redundant two years ago.Having tried and failed to secure…
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