Oil and Gas News from OilGasDaily.Com
OIL AND GAS
UK judges block new oil site over indirect climate impact
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
UK judges block new oil site over indirect climate impact
by AFP Staff Writers
London (AFP) June 20, 2024

The UK Supreme Court ruled on Thursday against the development of a new oil well site in southern England, in a verdict campaigners said could affect future fossil fuel projects.

Sarah Finch challenged a decision to allow the expansion at Horse Hill near London Gatwick Airport in 2019, arguing that indirect emissions had not been taken into account.

"I am absolutely over the moon," she said after the judgement. "This is a welcome step towards a safer, fairer future."

Finch and fellow campaigners argued the development was unlawful because the environmental impact assessment (EIA) only took into account the impact of extracting the oil, and not the effect of emissions produced when the oil was burned.

UK legislation requires that EIAs must be conducted for all development projects likely to significantly impact the environment.

But such assessments do not always account for indirect "downstream" emissions.

The Supreme Court justices ruled three to two in favour of Finch, whose case was previously dismissed by two lower courts.

The court said the council's decision was unlawful "because the emissions that will occur when the oil produced is burnt as fuel are within the scope of the EIA required by law".

That effectively quashes permission to build four new oil wells and 20 years of oil production at the site.

Under the plans, the site, discovered in 2015 and run by Horse Hill Developments, would have produced around 3.3 million tonnes of oil and 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

In the judgement, judge George Leggatt said "it seems to me plain" that emissions created by burning oil extracted at the site "are effects of the project".

He stated that it was "not a valid ground" to argue that the oil being refined elsewhere before being burned meant it did not need to be considered as part of the environmental assessment.

Friends of the Earth, which supported the case, called the ruling "groundbreaking" and said it could have "profound implications" for new fossil fuel projects, including a coal mine in northwest England and two proposed North Sea oil and gas fields.

Those projects are also subject to legal challenges.

Friends of the Earth Lawyer Katie de Kauwe said the ruling was "a watershed moment in the fight to stop further fossil fuel extraction projects in the UK and make the emissions cuts needed to meet crucial climate targets".

She added: "The highest court in the country has ruled that planning permission for an oil project was granted unlawfully because there was no consideration of its full climate impact.

"This judgement will make it harder for new fossil fuel projects to go ahead. They can no longer claim that downstream emissions are someone else's problem."

Related Links
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
OIL AND GAS
Congo oil permit threatens park, must be scrapped: NGO
Brazzaville (AFP) June 20, 2024
An oil exploration permit held by a Chinese company in Congo-Brazzaville could threaten the ecosystem of one of the country's national parks and should be scrapped, a US environmental group said on Thursday. Congo Brazzaville awarded the oil exploration permit to China Oil Natural Gas Overseas Holding United at the start of the year, which according to Earth Insight overlaps with just over a quarter of the Conkouati-Douli National Park. "Oil development there would be a disaster for human and ec ... read more

OIL AND GAS
Sky's the limit for biofuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Reduces Non-CO2 Emissions

Vast Gets Approval for Solar Methanol Plant in Port Augusta

Singapore shipper claims milestone with bio-methanol refuelling

OIL AND GAS
Vortex Structures Uncovered in Solar Cell and Lighting Materials

Solar to be Vatican's sole energy source, pope orders

Chinese Premier Li targets clean energy in Australia visit

Rice Lab Reports Significant Advances in Perovskite Solar Cell Stability

OIL AND GAS
Why US offshore wind power is struggling - the good, the bad and the opportunity

Robots enhance wind turbine blade production at NREL

Offshore wind turbines may reduce nearby power output

Wind Energy Expansion Planned for China's Rural Areas

OIL AND GAS
Framatome secures EU funding for 100% European fuel development

Key neutron transfer mechanism could lead to advances in nuclear physics

Niger revokes French operating licence at major uranium mine

Australian opposition details plan for nuclear rollout if elected

OIL AND GAS
Climate protesters target UK's ruling Tories for second day running

Climate lawsuits against companies and govts on the rise

Thousands march in London to call for 'urgent' climate action

Four in five people want more climate action: UN survey

OIL AND GAS
Locals protest against Turkish island's 'monstrobuses'

Autonomous car rules advancing faster than the vehicles themselves: UN

EU and China open talks over electric car tariffs

Stellantis warns could halt UK car production

OIL AND GAS
Iraq's top Christian leader reinstated as head of church

Iraq says several arrested over attacks on US-linked outlets

US-linked restaurants attacked in Baghdad: security sources

Iraq hangs eight convicted of 'terrorism': sources

OIL AND GAS
US aircraft carrier arrives in S. Korea for joint drills

SKorean troops fire warning shots as NKorean soldiers cross DMZ again

North Korea-Russia treaty calls for mutual military aid 'without delay' in event of war

Canada lists Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organization

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.