{"id":69315,"date":"2024-08-15T14:30:39","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T12:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=69315"},"modified":"2024-12-16T16:06:24","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:06:24","slug":"landmark-climate-justice-case-norway-oil-gas-expansion-global-legal-precedent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/69315\/landmark-climate-justice-case-norway-oil-gas-expansion-global-legal-precedent\/","title":{"rendered":"How a landmark case against Norway\u2019s oil and gas expansion could set a global legal precedent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Greenpeace Nordic case, together with six youth activists and Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth), at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is more than a legal battle; it is a critical moment for the climate justice movement around the world. In our case<\/a> we challenge the Norwegian government\u2019s decision to expand oil and gas extraction in the Arctic in the midst of the climate crisis. We argue that these actions violate fundamental human rights. <\/p>\n\n

Following the herstoric<\/em> KlimaSeniorinnen win by a group of Swiss senior women<\/a> who brought the first ever climate case before the ECtHR, the Court has invited the parties, including six young activists together with environmental organisations Nature & Youth and Greenpeace Nordic, to submit additional arguments by 16 August.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

There will likely be no oral hearing and no date has been set for the ruling, but, as the climate activists involved, we\u2019re hoping for a prompt and favourable resolution. <\/p>\n\n

\"People
On 15 June 2021, Greenpeace Nordic and Young Friends of the Earth, along with six young climate activists file an application with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The individual applicants include six young activists: Ingrid Skjoldv\u00e6r, Gaute Eiterjord, Ella Marie H\u00e6tta Isaksen, Mia Cathryn Chamberlain, Lasse Bj\u00f8rn, and Gina Gylver.
\u00a9 Lasse Fl\u00f8de \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Here’s why we\u2019re feeling optimistic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

The climate litigation movement has made significant advances globally. We\u2019ve seen a growing number of climate lawsuits forcing states and corporations to take more ambitious climate action<\/a> to protect human rights and the environment. <\/p>\n\n

We\u2019ve seen how climate-impacted communities bringing their stories to the courts is a powerful way to encourage a green and just transition away from fossil fuels, secure more robust environmental policies, and strengthen international cooperation on climate issues. <\/p>\n\n

We also celebrated a landmark win in the <\/a>Oslo District Court this year where the Norwegian government\u2019s approvals for three new oil and gas fields were ruled invalid because it failed to conduct adequate climate impact assessments. <\/p>\n\n

Against this backdrop, we are optimistic for a judgement ordering our country, Norway, to take all necessary measures to protect human rights in the context of climate change, including stopping the expansion of fossil fuel extraction and production that prioritises greed over need. <\/p>\n\n

This case could take us all one step closer to climate justice<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n

The case against the Norwegian state highlights the connection between environmental protection and human rights in the context of ongoing oil and gas exploration. <\/p>\n\n

Bringing our case to the ECtHR underscores the point that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a human rights issue. In April this year, the Court found for the first time ever that a State’s climate inaction violates human rights.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

We argue that the Norwegian government\u2019s continued expansion of oil drilling in the Arctic exacerbates climate change, thereby infringing on our right to life and right to private and family life for present and future generations, as protected under Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights<\/a> (ECHR). <\/p>\n\n

A favourable ruling would reinforce protection of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment<\/a> as a precondition for the enjoyment of basic human rights while demonstrating clearly that aggressive oil policies are a threat to these rights. <\/p>\n\n

\"People
Ice sculpture of a globe, during a press conference at the Supreme Court.\n\nYoung Friends of the Earth Norway (Nature and Youth) and Greenpeace are taking the Norwegian government to the supreme court of Norway for opening up new oil fields in the fragile and diminishing Arctic.<\/figcaption>
\u00a9 Johanna Hanno \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Climate justice is justice for Indigenous Peoples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis and are involved in pursuing climate justice cases on multiple continents. <\/p>\n\n

In Norway and other parts of Europe the S\u00e1mi people’s traditional way of life and livelihoods are already severely threatened by climate change<\/a>. Members of Indigenous S\u00e1mi communities and people of S\u00e1mi descent are among the applicants in the Norwegian climate justice case. They, and the other youth applicants, argue that the State\u2019s plans to intensify emissions discriminate against youth and Indigenous Peoples, violating Article 14 of the ECHR.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThat the European Court of Human Rights soon will hear our case is a watershed moment for us who have been fighting Norwegian oil for years,” says Ella Marie H\u00e6tta Isaksen, S\u00e1mi activist and one of the young applicants. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cI hope a victory will force Norway onto a new course,\u201d says Ella, \u201cas the Norwegian government\u2019s aggressive oil expansion continues to put dirty oil profits above human rights. My people, the indigenous people of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, have survived countless hardships. If world leaders don’t act now to prevent further climate and environmental destruction, it is the Indigenous Peoples around the world who will be among the very first to lose their livelihoods. That is why this matter is so incredibly important to me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Why this ruling matters <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

To tackle the climate crisis, governments must stop granting licences to extract, process, transport, and burn fossil fuels that wreak havoc on the environment. Instead, data shows a surge in new oil and gas exploration in 2024<\/a>, with just five wealthy countries accounting for 56% of oil and gas licences since 2000 – Norway being one of them.<\/p>\n\n

This is a landmark case because it\u2019s the ECtHR\u2019s first opportunity to rule on obligations for  combustion emissions. 95% of the emissions from Norway\u2019s massive oil and gas industry stem from the combustion of exported oil and gas. The ECtHR ruled in the KlimaSeniorinnen case that the State\u2019s primary duty is to \u201cadopt, and to effectively apply in practice, regulations and measures capable of mitigating the existing and potentially irreversible, future effects of climate change.\u201d The Applicants argue that Norway\u2019s licensing plans will have the opposite effect.<\/p>\n\n

For Norway, a country with an aggressively expansion-driven oil and gas policy, this ruling could compel the State to take necessary and appropriate measures to protect human rights and keep global temperature increase below 1.5\u00baC, by foregoing the expansion of fossil fuel projects. This could lead the government to reassess its licensing policies and invest more in renewable energy sources to meet its human rights obligations.<\/p>\n\n

A critical moment for climate justice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

\u201cWe are very excited about the human rights Court\u2019s upcoming ruling. It will mark the first time one of the world\u2019s highest courts will examine the effects of climate-wrecking fossil fuel expansion on fundamental human rights. An outcome in favour of the climate and our human rights will establish a legal precedent and have positive repercussions for Norway, Europe and beyond,\u201d says Klimentina Radkova, legal campaigner at Greenpeace Nordic.<\/p>\n\n

The ECtHR has the potential to reinforce the imperative of States to take necessary and sufficient measures to safeguard human rights and the rights of the future generations and Indigenous Peoples in the context of the climate crisis. As we await the Court\u2019s decision, the efforts of the young activists and impacted communities remind us of the urgency and importance of this fight for a sustainable, equitable and just future. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRaise your voice for Climate Justice\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

It\u2019s time for all of us to assert our rights, demand climate justice, and a dignified way of life.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t \n Take action\n <\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\n

Juni Haugan Holden is Communications Officer for Greenpeace Norway<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greenpeace Nordic, six youth activists and Nature and Youth took the Norwegian government European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to stop the expansion of oil and gas in the arctic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":193,"featured_media":69313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"Climate Justice Liability","p4_local_project":"","p4_basket_name":"","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[89,91,85,87],"p4-page-type":[59],"class_list":["post-69315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-and-economic-systems","tag-climate","tag-health","tag-oceans","tag-oil","p4-page-type-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/193"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69315"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69317,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69315\/revisions\/69317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69315"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=69315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}