Today, The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Norway must assess the global climate impacts of oil and gas before opening new oil fields on the Norwegian continental shelf in order to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. The ruling establishes new, binding legal obligations that will reshape how governments approach fossil fuel development.
The Court did not find a human rights violation at this moment as it is counting on Norway conducting a full assessment of climate impacts when opening new oil and gas projects. The Court affirmed that a full environmental impact assessment, taking into account emissions from combustion, wherever they take place, must be conducted before any new oil fields are opened – establishing a crucial safeguard against projects that would worsen the climate crisis. Failing to do so is a violation of human rights. Today no new oil and gas projects on the Norwegian continental shelf fulfill this requirement.
Frode Pleym, head of Greenpeace Norway, said: "This is a major step forward. It's a relief to see the Court recognise what science has told us for years - that new oil and gas fields threaten our most basic human rights. Requiring governments to assess the global climate consequences of oil and gas combustion before approving new fossil projects is common sense, and long overdue."
Sigrid Hoddevik Losnegård, head of Young Friends of the Earth Norway: "This decision is a quantum leap for climate accountability. The government can no longer continue its oil and gas policy as if climate change doesn't exist. This judgment will have ripple effects far beyond Norway."
The ruling comes nearly a decade after Greenpeace Nordic and Young Friends of the Earth Norway (Natur og Ungdom) first brought the People vs. Arctic Oil case, arguing that Norway's Arctic oil policy violates fundamental human rights.
The judgment reinforces the growing international legal consensus that governments must consider the climate impacts of new fossil fuel projects in line with human rights obligations. It builds on recent decisions from the International Court of Justice and the UK Supreme Court, both of which highlighted the incompatibility of new oil and gas development with global climate goals.
The ECtHR's decision builds on the 2024 KlimaSeniorinnen judgement and sends a strong message to governments worldwide that the era of unchecked fossil fuel expansion is over. By recognising that climate harm is a matter of human rights, the Court adds another crucial building block to the growing body of international climate jurisprudence.
"The judgement sets limits to how badly the Norwegian government can damage our future. It's a victory for reason, for science, and for everyone fighting for a livable planet," said Frode Pleym.
