On October 18th Nature and Youth and Greenpeace, with a wide support of civil society organisations and strong voices from around the world, filed a lawsuit against the Norwegian government for allowing oil companies to drill for new oil in the melting Arctic.
Violates Paris Agreement
Norway was among the first countries in the world to ratify the Paris Agreement and promised to help limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C. Just weeks later the same government, for the first time in 20 years, opened up new oil licence rounds in the melting Arctic allowing the state-owned Statoil and 12 other oil companies to start a major new exploration campaign in the Barents Sea in 2017. The Norwegian government is thereby violating their global climate promises.
Violates the Norwegian constitution
The lawsuit argues that the Norwegian government should uphold the constitutional right for future generations as it is written in article 112 of the Norwegian Constitution:
“Every person has the right to an environment that is conducive to health and to a natural environment whose productivity and diversity are maintained. Natural resources shall be managed on the basis of comprehensive long-term considerations which will safeguard this right for future generations as well. The authorities of the state shall take measures for the implementation of these principles”.
Here you can read the full lawsuit submission document that was handed in to the court when the case was filed – stating the key legal arguments.