An environmental charity has failed in its High Court challenge against the UK Government's decision to grant nearly 30 new oil and gas exploration licences in the North Sea.
Legal Battle Over North Sea Exploration
Oceana UK had brought legal action against the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), arguing they failed to properly assess the environmental risks when awarding the licences in May last year.
The charity claimed that both the impact of climate change and the risk of accidental oil spills had not been adequately considered before the 28 licences were granted across three key areas: west of Shetland, the North Sea, and the Irish Sea.
Court's Decision and Reasoning
On Friday 28 November 2025, Mr Justice Mould dismissed the claim, ruling that the government's approach to granting the exploration licences was lawful.
In his written judgment, the judge acknowledged that 'licensed oil and gas activities in the United Kingdom continental shelf carry with them the risk of accidents, including oil and chemical spills' and noted that 'oil spills and chemical discharges do occur'.
However, he found it reasonable for the regulatory bodies to 'approach the task of appropriate assessment on the basis that accidental events, including spills, are not part of the work plan' and described the government's risk assessment approach as 'properly precautionary'.
Environmental Concerns and Government Defence
During hearings in March, the court heard that many of the licences overlap with protected marine zones, potentially affecting species including harbour porpoises, puffins and pink-footed geese.
Zoe Leventhal KC, representing Oceana, argued that the environmental assessments were insufficient, while Rose Grogan, for the government bodies, described Oceana's challenge as taking a 'scattergun approach'.
The government maintained that the licences are only for exploration and that further environmental assessments will be conducted before any final consent for extraction is given.
Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK, expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating: 'Legally, the government's decision to grant these licences stands, but morally, it will never be right.'
The charity is now considering whether to appeal the decision, stating they are taking legal advice on next steps.
