In a significant win for fossil fuel opponents, the U.K. Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday that mandates planners to consider greenhouse gas emissions from burning extracted oil when reviewing well-drilling permits. The case stemmed from a challenge against Surrey County Council's decision to permit additional oil wells at the Horse Hill site near London Gatwick Airport.
The challenge was brought forth by a woman acting on behalf of the Weald Action Group, contending that the environmental impact assessment conducted prior to the permit approval had failed to account for future emissions resulting from the burning of the extracted oil over a 20-year period. The Supreme Court, in a 3-2 decision, sided with the argument, deeming the council's approval unlawful due to the oversight in assessing the climate impact of the oil combustion.
