A Scottish court has invalidated Britain's approvals for two major North Sea oil and gas projects, delivering a significant victory to environmental groups and raising uncertainty over future fossil fuel developments in
A Scottish court has invalidated Britain's approvals for two major North Sea oil and gas projects, delivering a significant victory to environmental groups and raising uncertainty over future fossil fuel developments in the UK.
The Court of Session in Edinburgh found that the government had unlawfully granted approval for Shell's Jackdaw gas field and Equinor's Rosebank oil and gas field by failing to consider the emissions generated when the extracted fuels are burned—known as downstream emissions. The ruling follows legal challenges from Greenpeace and Uplift, which argued the approval process did not align with climate obligations.
Judge Andrew Stewart stated that the public interest in lawful decision-making and addressing climate change outweighed the private interests of developers. While the companies can continue working on the projects, Stewart ruled that no oil or gas can be extracted until the government reassesses its decision.
The Reaction
A Shell spokesperson welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the ruling allows the projects to move forward while new approvals are sought. “Swift government action is needed so that we and other North Sea operators can make informed decisions about critical UK energy infrastructure,” the statement said.
Equinor also responded positively, saying it was pleased it could
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