U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the government’s decision to grant 100 new North Sea oil and gas extraction licenses in an effort to make the country more energy independent.

Sunak said the commitment to grant the licenses was the right thing to do, arguing the choice aligns with the country’s net-zero emissions goals, according to BBC News.

“Even when we reach net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will still come from oil and gas, and domestic gas production has about a quarter or a third of the carbon footprint of imported gas," Sunak said.

Sunak also said that the renewed commitment to fossil fuels will improve the U.K.’s energy security, making the country less dependent on other nations, such as Russia, according to Reuters.

Lyndsay Walsh, the climate change policy advisor for Oxfam (an organization made up of 21 independent charities that work to alleviate global poverty), said the decision demonstrates how hypocritical the U.K. government has been when it comes to achieving climate goals.

"Extracting more fossil fuels from the North Sea will send a wrecking ball through the U.K.'s climate commitments at a time when we should be investing in a just transition to a low carbon economy and our own abundant renewables," she said.

The U.K. said it is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% (based on 1990 levels) by 2050, including outputs from devolved administrations — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — which account for 20% of the U.K.'s total emissions.