Supreme Norway invalidates three oil licenses in the North Sea

A norway's highest judicial body today invalidated three oil licenses in the North Sea, contested by two environmental organizations that denounced the inadequacy of environmental impact studies.

The Supreme Court, confirming the decisions of the two lower bodies, concluded that emissions linked to the combustion resulting from oil exploration should be subject to an impact assessment prior to the granting of operating licences by the Norwegian State.

For this decision, the court delivered the verdict in a format with the participation of 11 judges, instead of the usual five, a situation reserved for cases of great relevance in Norway.

In a statement, the Supreme Court indicated that a majority of six judges considered that the environmental impact studies and assessments carried out by the authorities were insufficient.

Even so, this does not mean that authorisations automatically lose their validity for the holders of exploitation rights, the Court has clarified.

It is now up to the Norwegian Ministry of Energy to reassess the licences.

The scope of the decision will be examined by several lawyers and non-governmental organisations who dispute the operating licences granted to oil and gas companies.

This is a type of dispute that has been highlighted globally.

Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth) and the Norwegian branch of Greenpeace environmental group filed a lawsuit in 2023 against authorisations granted for the fields of Tyrving, Breidablikk and Yggdrasil, alleging that they were awarded prior to carrying out environmental impact studies.

In January 2024, a court of first instance ruled in favor, leading the Norwegian Ministry of Energy to appeal.

The decision was subsequently confirmed by an appeal court in November 2025.

Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2014 and then in 2022, Norway has been the main exporter of gas and oil in Western Europe and intends to continue to develop the sector.

Meanwhile, Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, representative of the Norwegian representation of Greenpeace, one of the organisations that filed the complaint, told the France Presse Agency that this was a “historical victory for the climate”.

“ The big polluters are now required to admit, with accuracy, to what extent they contribute to the climate crisis we are currently going through,” said the environmental organization’s head.

After the announcement of the judicial decision, the Ministry of Energy, which had granted the licenses, refused to make any comments.