Home Fossil Energy Legal storm to hit Rosebank as UK’s historic ruling brings emissions from burning oil & gas into play
June 20, 2024,
by
Melisa Čavčić
The UK’s Supreme Court has introduced a potential game changer with its decision to deem approval of an energy project unlawful due to no consideration being given to the climate impact of burning the oil. This is expected to have serious implications for all new fossil fuel developments in the country as it adds weight to activists’ cases against such projects. The ink is not even dry yet on the ruling but it has sparked excitement about resuming a legal battle against Rosebank, said to be the largest undeveloped oil field in British waters.
FPSO Petrojarl Knarr for Equinor’s Rosebank oil field in UK waters; Source: Aker Solutions
Following five grueling years locked in a court battle, the ruling on a legal challenge, brought on by local campaigner Sarah Finch on behalf of Weald Action Group and supported by Friends of the Earth, against Surrey County Council over its decision to grant planning permission for oil drilling at Horse Hill, has led to an unprecedented plot twist in the handling of lawsuits against fossil fuel projects, giving an advantage to those fighting for the climate in court.
After winning the case, Finch said: “This is a welcome step towards a safer, fairer future. The oil and gas companies may act like ‘business as usual’ is still an option, but it will be very hard for planning authorities to permit new fossil fuel developments – in the Weald, the North Sea or anywhere else – when their true climate impact is clear for all to see.”
As the Supreme Court’s ruling emphasizes for the first time that emissions from burning oil and gas need to be taken into account when approving such projects, environmental activists and climate campaigners have hailed the decision to quash the planning permission for the Horse Hill project as a historic win for the climate. According to Katie de Kauwe, Lawyer from Friends of the Earth, this marks “another fantastic step towards a fossil-free future.”
🚨HUGE CLIMATE WIN🚨
For the first time the UK Supreme Court has ruled a new oil drilling licence unlawful because the government IGNORED emissions from burning fossil fuels.
This could help stop future fossil fuel projects. We need a renewable energy plan focused on workers.⬇️
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) June 20, 2024
Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s decision is also seen as a green light to proceed with the legal case against the Equinor-operated Rosebank oil field, as activists believe their lawsuit is now standing on much stronger ground. The court put the lawsuit on hold, pending the decision in the Finch case, as one of the claims was also about the need to assess the emissions from burning oil and gas.
As a result,