The Arctic Oil case takes big steps towards the European Court of Human Rights.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has characterised the Arctic oil case as a potential “impact case”, and has therefore requested that the Norwegian Government responds to the People vs. Arctic Oil application.
Six young climate activists, along with organisations Young Friends of the Earth Norway and Greenpeace Nordic, filed this application with the Court in June. The climate activists argue that, in continuing to hand out new oil drilling licenses in the Arctic, the Norwegian state violates their fundamental human rights by enabling activity that will increase greenhouse gas emissions precisely when urgent worldwide decarbonisation is essential to protect their lives and livelihoods.