October 19, 2016
Statoil challenged on Arctic drilling
Norwegian state oil company Statoil, which has just given up its exploration programme off New Zealand’s far north, is running into choppy legal waters even further north.
Greenpeace Nordic and another lobby group, Nature and Youth, are taking the Norwegian government to court for allowing Statoil and other companies to drill for oil in the Arctic Barents Sea.
They argue Norway is violating the Paris Climate Agreement and the people's constitutional right to a healthy and safe environment for future generations.
Greenpeace New Zealand climate campaigner Kate Simcock says the case could have implications around the world, showing it's possible for ordinary people and smart legal tactics to hold governments to account on their plans to tackle climate change.
The move comes as the president of Norway’s indigenous Sami parliament is about to start a New Zealand tour meeting with iwi to discuss Statoil’s presence here.
Statoil is still prospecting for oil in New Zealand’s lower East Coast waters In partnership with Chevron.
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