Climate Litigation in Norway. A Preliminary Assessment

Il contenzioso climatico in Norvegia. Una valutazione preliminare

Abstract

Climate litigation is taking an increasingly important role in attempting to work around the reluctance of States to adopt climate policy commensurate with the enormous challenges posed by climate change and its consequences. In this context, a climate lawsuit was filed in Norway in 2016 as a response to the awarding of 10 oil extraction permits in the Barents Sea by the Norwegian authorities. The lawsuit has been pending since in the Norwegian legal system, drawing huge attention to the question of how the legal system can be used to combat climate change in a meaningful manner. The case will be heard by the Norwegian Supreme Court in plenary session in November 2020. This article offers an outline of the central
questions and a concise analysis of the key legal issues at stake.