In a pivotal legal development, Greenpeace UK and Uplift have been granted permission to challenge the approval of the Rosebank and Jackdaw offshore oil and gas fields in the Scottish Court of Session on 12 November, 2024.
The environmental organisations argue that the environmental impact assessments for these projects unlawfully ignored emissions from burning the extracted fossil fuels, known as Scope 3 emissions.
The UK Government announced in August that it would not contest these legal challenges, following a Supreme Court ruling in June that mandated regulators, including the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), to consider the total environmental impact of new projects.
Equinor, involved in Rosebank, has not commented on the challenge but stated it will continue progressing the project.
Shell, which operates the Jackdaw gas field, asserted that all necessary permits are in place and emphasised the project’s importance for UK energy security.
If successful, the legal challenge could require operators to resubmit environmental assessments before any drilling can begin, potentially delaying or halting these projects.
The outcome could significantly influence future offshore oil and gas approvals in the UK, making November’s court hearing a critical moment for both environmental policy and energy strategy.
A spokesperson said: “Jackdaw is a vital project for UK energy security that is already well under way.
“Stopping the work is a highly complex process, with significant technical and safety issues now that infrastructure is in place and drilling has started in the North Sea.”
