A significant legal battle is unfolding in London as the environmental organization Oceana UK challenges the legality of 31 oil and gas exploration licenses granted by the UK government. These licenses, awarded in May 2024 under the Conservative administration of Rishi Sunak, cover areas within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), raising concerns about their impact on marine life and climate stability.
Beginning on March 26, 2025, in a hearing set to last two days, Oceana UK argues that these licenses infringe upon ecological protections and threaten the sustainability of marine habitats. By granting these explorations without adequate assessments of their potential environmental impacts, the UK government and the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) failed to heed the advice of crucial regulatory bodies, including the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England. Both organizations have cautioned that thorough evaluations must consider the risks posed by oil and gas extraction, such as spills, discharges, and leaks.
Naomi Tilley, Oceana UK's campaign lead, provided a stark viewpoint on the situation, emphasizing the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems. "The steady drip-feed of pollution from oil and gas developments has well-documented and severe impacts on marine wildlife ranging from cancers to stillbirths, and across species from porpoises to cod. This is on top of the pressures of the climate crisis," Tilley stated. She further urged for a shift in prioritizing ecological health over immediate financial gain: "We need to prioritize thriving seas and flourishing communities over short-term profits and greed."
These licenses permit companies to explore oil and gas extraction in areas roughly half the size of Wales, and it has emerged that the NSTA's estimates suggest that the projects could allow for the extraction of up to 600 million barrels of oil equivalent. Oceana UK’s legal challenge highlights the urgent environmental concerns associated with fossil fuel development in fragile ecosystems.
Following the 2024 General Election, the Labour-led government pledged to maintain all licenses awarded by the prior administration but made it clear that it would halt new licensing initiatives moving forward. This political backdrop adds complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings, as the Labour government finds itself in a balancing act between upholding previous decisions and fulfilling environmental commitments.
In a precedent-altering moment, the Scottish Court of Session recently ruled that two major North Sea oil and gas fields were approved unlawfully because their environmental assessments failed to consider complete lifecycle emissions. The Jackdaw and Rosebank projects, led by Shell Group and Equinor, respectively, will only move forward if new assessments are forthcoming—a legal outcome that may influence future decisions regarding licensing in the UK.
This legal precedent reinforces the argument that environmental impact assessments must account for ‘Scope 3’ emissions—the indirect emissions from the use of extracted oil and gas. This ruling followed a pivotal June 2024 decision by the UK Supreme Court, which stated that planning authorities must evaluate the downstream emissions from oil and gas operations in the context of public health and environmental standards.
As Oceana UK furthers its case through the courts, it highlights that the government’s current licensing approach is contrary to the UK’s commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework, which intends for 30% of land and sea to be designated for nature by 2030. This commitment raises pressing questions about the consistency of the government’s actions versus its stated environmental goals.
Oceana UK’s hearing comes at a critical juncture—one that could potentially reshape the UK's energy landscape and commitment to environmental stewardship. As the case unfolds, the implications for both climate policy and marine protection will be scrutinized closely.
Following the two-day hearing, the judge will have a maximum of three months to render a decision that could set a significant legal precedent regarding oil and gas activities in protected marine areas. Environmental advocates will undoubtedly watch closely to determine if this legal challenge will lead to meaningful changes in the management of the UK’s natural resources and contribute to sustainable practices moving forward.
