UK Oil Ruling Sets Up Growth Versus Climate Test for Government
- Fate of Rosebank field seen as crucial for future of North Sea
- Climate activists challenged the validity of fields’ permits
A UK court ruled that two North Sea oil and gas fields must re-apply for environmental permits while allowing the developments to continue, setting up a crucial test of whether the new Labour government will prioritize economic growth or climate action.
The Court of Session in Edinburgh quashed the approvals for the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects — led by Equinor ASA and Shell Plc, respectively — which were unlawful because they hadn’t considered the climate impact of burning oil and gas pumped from the fields, according to a statement from the court on Thursday.