Two environmental groups have lost a court fight against Arctic oil and gas licenses off Norway that they called the first lawsuit claiming governmental violation of the Paris climate accord.
The Oslo District Court supported the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy against a challenge to its issuance of 10 licenses covering 40 blocks in the Barents Sea (OGJ Online, May 18, 2016).
Greenpeace and Nature and Youth said award of the licenses in Norway’s 23rd licensing round violated the country’s constitution and the Paris accord.
The court disagreed and ordered plaintiffs to pay court costs.
Operators of the blocks in question are Statoil Petroleum AS, Capricorn Norge AS, Centrica Resources (Norge) AS, Det Norske Oljeselskap ASA, and Lundin Norway AS. Three other companies hold interests.