Court Ruling Halts North Sea Oil and Gas Projects Over Climate Concerns

A Scottish court has deemed approvals for the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields unlawful, requiring reassessment of their environmental impacts.

The Scottish Court of Session ruled that prior approvals for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields failed to account for downstream emissions, making them unlawful.
The ruling requires Shell and Equinor to resubmit environmental impact assessments, factoring in emissions from burning extracted fuels.
Both companies can continue preparatory work on the projects but cannot extract oil or gas until new consents are granted by the UK government.
Environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift celebrate the decision as a landmark victory for climate accountability, while industry leaders warn of risks to energy security and economic growth.
The UK government is expected to issue revised environmental guidelines for oil and gas projects by spring, which will influence the future of these fields.