An ocean conservation organization is taking legal action against the UK government over 31 oil and gas exploration licenses issued by the previous administration earlier this year.
Oceana UK argues that the authorities who issued these licenses did not adequately consider their impact on marine life, according to Reuters. The organization is part of the Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling, which has urged the current Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, to settle the lawsuit.
The group believes that settling the case would allow the government to honor its commitments to the public and demonstrate a shift away from the previous administration’s reliance on fossil fuels.
The UK’s North Sea Transition Authority, formerly known as the Oil and Gas Authority, granted the 31 exploration licenses in May. This decision came as the Sunak government faced the challenge of balancing energy security with the need to phase out oil and gas production, according to advocates.
The licenses are projected to add about 600 million barrels of oil equivalent by 2060, or 545 million barrels by 2050. Notably, some of the areas awarded in May were previously designated for offshore wind power.
The NSTA stated that, following discussions with The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, they have introduced a new clause to address overlaps between oil and gas licenses and wind leases for the first time.