Victory for youth and environmentalists in Norwegian Supreme Court: Illegal oil and gas fields must halt

The Norwegian Supreme Court has reinstated a ban on the development of three oil and gas fields in the North Sea as a result of an appeal by Greenpeace Nordic and Natur og Ungdom (Young Friends of the Earth Norway). Climate campaigners and the youth movement celebrated the news that these harmful oil fields are once again paused. The organisations now seek to ensure that the Court of Appeals upholds the injunctions so the ban remains in place. 

Frode Pleym, head of Greenpeace in Norway, said: “We’re elated. This is an important victory for the rule of law and the future of both people and nature. These oil and gas fields were approved illegally, and now Norway’s highest court has reinstated the ruling that all production and development must be stopped.”

In June 2023, Greenpeace Nordic and Natur og Ungdom (Young Friends of the Earth Norway) sued the Norwegian State for approving three oil and gas fields in the North Sea without assessing the global climate and environmental impacts. Oslo District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in January 2024 and imposed a temporary ban on all activity on the Tyrving, Breidablikk and Yggdrasil fields. But the State appealed the injunction, and the Court of Appeal lifted the ban. Norway’s Supreme Court has now reversed that decision, keeping the temporary ban in place.[1] 

Given this ruling, the Norwegian State and plaintiff organisations will return to the Court of Appeals for a new assessment. Until the Court of Appeals issues a new ruling, the Oslo District Court’s ruling from January 2023 is in effect: prohibiting the state from granting new permits. This means that production and development of the oil and gas fields must stop.

Sigrid Losnegård, head of Natur og Ungdom, said: “The Supreme Court ruling couldn’t be more clear. Now we await the government’s confirmation that they will respect the ruling from the Supreme Court and stop production and development at the three illegal oil and gas fields.” 

The organisations are looking forward to further proceedings in the Court of Appeal and believe today’s decision strengthens their case that the Norwegian State’s choice to develop new oil and gas fields violates both national law and international human rights.

Photo related to the case can be accessed via the Greenpeace Media Library 

Notes:

[1] The Norwegian State also appealed the judgement on the merits and this case is set to be heard by the Court of Appeals in September this year. A question on scope III emissions for this case has been heard by the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) Court, which is set to rule in the near future.