Court Ruling Shakes North Sea Oil Future

A Scottish court overturned Britain's approval for two North Sea oil fields, marking a win for environmental activists. The court ruled approvals were illegal as they didn't account for downstream emissions. The developers can continue work, but extraction must wait for new government decisions.


Devdiscourse News Desk | London | Updated: 30-01-2025 16:06 IST | Created: 30-01-2025 15:37 IST
Court Ruling Shakes North Sea Oil Future
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In a landmark decision, a Scottish court has overturned Britain's approval of two large North Sea oil and gas fields, handing a significant victory to environmental campaigners. The court found that the initial approval process failed to adequately consider downstream emissions, casting uncertainty on future fossil fuel projects in the UK.

The ruling mandates the British government to reevaluate the projects, aligning decisions with legal and climate obligations. Despite allowing Shell and Equinor to continue preparatory work, Judge Andrew Stewart emphasized no extraction can commence until new approvals are sought.

This decision follows a recent UK Supreme Court ruling mandating planning authorities to assess the emissions impact from burning fossil fuels. The government's subsequent announcement promises new guidance to facilitate compliance, opening a dialogue about transitioning to clean energy in line with climate goals.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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