Norway asked the European Court of Human Rights for dismissal of a Norwegian case brought by climate activists seeking to stop Arctic oil exploration and development.
The filing stated that “The Attorney General For Civil Affairs respectfully requests Court to determine whether the complaint is inadmissible.”
With support from Greenpeace, Young Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, six people in their 20s filed a suit. This lawsuit is part of a new law branch that allows plaintiffs the opportunity to present their case in court for climate change mitigation.
The activists asked for the ECHR to not block Norway’s plans to drill in Arctic waters for oil. They claimed that this would put the environment at risk and threaten young people’s future.
The Netherlands court has ordered Shell oil majors to reduce their emission levels. This is a major victory for environmentalists. The company appealed this decision.
It also highlighted Norway’s role as an energy supplier to Europe, especially after the Ukraine war. The document also mentioned Russia’s “instrumentalization” of energy, which environmentalists vigorously denied.
Frode Plleym is the head of Greenpeace Norge and stated in a statement, “War in 2022 does not legitimize oil decisions in 2016, nor do we require new production for several more decades.”
The Norwegian Climate Case claims that Norway violated fundamental human right by permitting new oil drilling in a time of climate crisis.
The men appealed against the three Norwegian courts that rejected their request to stop exploration.
The ECHR has yet to decide if the case, dubbed “the People vs. Arctic Oil” by activists, should be admissible.
Norway is the largest producer in Western Europe of oil and natural gas, with approximately 4 million barrels per hour.
This article is shared:
EU Reporter publishes articles sourced from many outside sources that reflect a broad range of views. These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of EU Reporter.
