Norwegian Supreme Court gives the Go for arctic drillings

The Norwegian Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by environmental groups that had sued Norway five years ago for opening up areas in the Arctic for oil drilling by 11-4. In 2016, environmental organizations, including the Norwegian section of Greenpeace and Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth), sued the Norwegian government for granting oil drilling licenses in the Arctic. They argued that the 2015 licenses should be withdrawn as they violate the Norwegian Constitution and the country's pledge to meet the terms of the Paris Climate Agreement. At the beginning of 2018 a court in Oslo ruled in favor of the government, which led Greenpeace and Natur og Ungdom to appeal against two judgments of the lower courts to the Norwegian Supreme Court. The lawsuit was dubbed "The People vs. Arctic Oil" by Greenpeace, and the environmental groups hoped that a verdict in their favor on several oil licenses issued five years ago could set a precedent for further lawsuits. to stop oil and gas drilling off the Norwegian coast and in particular in the Barents Sea in the Arctic. "Opening up the Arctic to oil drilling in times of climate emergency is unacceptable and the Norwegian government must be held accountable. We hope and believe that the Supreme Court will recognize the significant influence of the Norwegian state on the climate crisis and invalidate the Arctic oil licenses "said Frode Pleym, head of Greenpeace Norway, last month. After the Supreme Court dismissed the case today, Greenpeace Norway said the ruling shows "zero understanding of the seriousness of the climate crisis." "We are very disappointed with today's decision. Most Supreme Court justices ignore the rights of future generations and choose the easy way to pursue Norway's oil policy," said Silje Ask Lundberg, chairwoman of Friends of the Earth Norway. Norway's Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru, commented: "This is an important and thorough judgment and we are very pleased that the state perspective has won". Last month the ministry opened additional blocks in the Arctic for oil exploration in its 25th licensing round, with the application deadline set for February 23, 2021.