
New EFTA Court judgment: Combustion emissions must be assessed and unlawful production licences must be remedied
On 21 May 2025, the EFTA Court issued a new advisory opinion in Case E-18/24. The Court clarified that, under the EU’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (2011/92/EU), greenhouse gas emissions from the subsequent combustion of oil and gas must be assessed before a decision is made on extraction. The decision sets out clear obligations for the Norwegian authorities and courts under EEA law, which are also relevant to Norway’s human rights obligations with respect to climate change.