background image

UK push for North Sea oil and gas drilling was unlawful

author image

By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Scottish High Court has ruled that the UK government’s approval of drilling in the North Sea's Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields was unlawful
The decision follows legal challenges from Greenpeace and Uplift, arguing that regulators failed to account for emissions from burning the extracted oil and gas
The ruling means Labour Energy Secretary Ed Miliband must now decide whether the projects can proceed

🔭 The context: The court’s decision follows a UK Supreme Court precedent requiring environmental impact assessments to include downstream emissions
Rosebank, owned by Equinor and Ithaca, and Jackdaw, owned by Shell, were approved under the previous Conservative government
The new Labour administration has banned new oil and gas licenses but must still assess existing approvals

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This ruling reinforces stricter climate accountability for fossil fuel projects in the UK
If upheld, it could slow or halt major North Sea drilling, aligning with the UK's net-zero goals
Environmental groups see it as a victory for climate action and legal scrutiny of oil and gas expansion

⏭️ What's next: The projects must now undergo a fresh regulatory review before Miliband makes a final decision. Developers can reapply under the revised environmental framework
The case sets a precedent for future fossil fuel project approvals in the UK

💬 One quote: “The public interest in authorities acting lawfully and the private interest of members of the public in climate change outweigh the private interest of the developers.” – Judge Andrew Stewart

📈 One stat: The Labour government has banned new North Sea oil and gas licenses, signaling a shift away from fossil fuel expansion

Click for more news covering the latest on oil & gas

Did you enjoy this illuminem voice? Support us by sharing this article!
author photo

About the author

illuminem's editorial team - providing you with concise summaries of the most important sustainability news of the day.

Follow us on Linkedin, Twitter​ & Instagram

Other illuminem Voices


Related Posts


You cannot miss it!

Weekly. Free. Your Top 10 Sustainability & Energy Posts.

You can unsubscribe at any time (read our privacy policy)