A judge has sided with environmental groups, stopping two major oil and gas projects in Scotland’s North East.
Scotland: A judge has made a big decision. He ruled against two oil and gas projects in the North Sea. Environmental groups like Greenpeace challenged these projects in court.
The projects in question are the Rosebank oil field and the Jackdaw gas field. They were approved by the UK Government and the North Sea Transition Authority. But the groups argued that the approvals were unlawful.
The judge, Lord Ericht, agreed with the environmental groups. He said the government didn’t consider the climate impact of burning the fuels. He ordered that the approvals be reconsidered.
Lord Ericht emphasized the importance of acting lawfully. He stated that the public interest in climate change outweighs the developers’ interests. He also mentioned that no extraction should happen until a new decision is made.
Supporters of the projects argue they are vital for the UK’s economy. A Shell spokesperson called for quick government action to move forward. They highlighted the significant investment already made in the Jackdaw project.
Equinor, another company involved, welcomed the ruling. They believe it allows them to continue working on the Rosebank project while waiting for new approvals.
Greenpeace celebrated the decision as a historic win. They believe it marks the end of ignoring climate impacts in drilling approvals. They urged the government to address the legal issues left by previous administrations.
The government has stated it is working on new environmental guidelines. They aim to consider emissions from burning oil and gas. Their goal is to ensure a fair transition in the North Sea while meeting climate obligations.
