Greenpeace Nordic Ass’n and Nature and Youth v. Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Case no. 16-166674TVI-OTIR/06 (Oslo District Court) (4 January 2018)

Climate Change
Constitutions

Greenpeace Nordic Ass’n and Nature and Youth v. Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Case no. 16-166674TVI-OTIR/06 (Oslo District Court) (4 January 2018)

Greenpeace Nordic Association and Natur og Ungdom (Nature & Youth) filed a case challenging licenses for offshore oil production granted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

In January, 2018, the Oslo District Court found Article 112 of the Norwegian Constitution creates an enforceable right to a healthy environment. The court acknowledged that this right includes the right to a healthy climate. 

Although the court found that Norwegians have a right to live in a healthy environment, and that the government is obligated to take action to protect that right, the court determined that the government did not violate this right in this instance in part because the government does not need to account for greenhouse gas emissions from Norwegian oil that will be burned abroad.  

The environmental organizations have appealed the decision. The Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal in November, 2020.