Oslo – Norway’s government will on Monday request that the country’s Supreme Court overturn a lower‑court ruling that declared three oilfield development permits invalid because they failed to consider climate impacts.

The legal battle pits environmental groups, including Greenpeace and Young Friends of the Earth, against Norway’s oil sector, which provides roughly half of the nation’s export revenue. The government maintains a policy of extending crude oil and natural gas production for decades.

Background of the case

Two lower courts have previously ruled in favor of the environmental groups, finding that Norway did not properly assess the environmental impact of the three fields. The case concerns Equinor’s Breidablikk field and Aker BP’s Tyrving and Yggdrasil fields. Breidablikk and Tyrving are already producing oil and gas, while Yggdrasil is slated to begin operations next year.

The groups argue that the government failed to consider the climate impact of the fields’ oil and gas combustion, known as Scope 3 emissions, and that any later attempts to address these impacts would be ineffective.

Government response

Norway’s Office of the Attorney General indicated that the state will argue the additional assessments of foreign emissions now satisfy all legal requirements. The lower courts have not ordered a halt to production while the case proceeds, but they suggested the government could take steps to remedy regulatory gaps.

National significance

Norway produces about 2 % of global oil and has become Europe’s largest natural gas supplier since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Supreme Court hearing is scheduled to last four days, with a verdict expected later this year.

Both the oil industry and environmental advocates are watching the outcome closely, as it could set a precedent for how climate considerations are integrated into future energy project approvals.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.