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North Sea Program

In the North Sea countries, we are fighting against new oil and gas exploration and production by so-called climate leaders, and for a just transition that fulfills the Paris agreement while building sustainable jobs and communities.

Fighting oil and gas production in the North Sea countries

The science is clear: fossil fuels are driving the climate crisis and new fossil fuel projects anywhere in the world are a threat to people everywhere. There is no room for any new investments in oil or gas if we are to stay within safe climate limits. This includes the North Sea countries (Norway, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark), who should actually be phasing out faster than other countries due to their historic responsibility.

That’s why we’re fighting new exploration and production across the North Sea countries, with a focus on Norway and the UK. Both countries claim to be climate leaders. However, the stark truth is that the United Kingdom and Norway are constantly pursuing more oil and gas exploration and production. That’s why we’ve ramped up our North Sea work as part of our goal to phase out fossil fuels across the globe.

Ending new licensing and limiting new oil and gas production

Contrary to how the countries portray themselves internationally, Norway and the UK continue to support oil and gas extraction. As our recent benchmarking report reveals, this blatantly disregards the Paris Agreement. OCI is therefore working to build international pressure on these North Sea countries to phase out fossil fuel production. 

Ensuring a just transition and countering false solutions

Cooperating closely with our partners on the ground in North Sea countries, we are working to build a broad base of support for a just phase out of fossil fuel production, and increasing ambition and understanding of climate and just transition demands of the wider climate and labor movements. This includes building up the confidence of other organizations and activists to challenge the oil and gas industry’s false solutions and dangerous distractions. 

Key Stats

  • 9 %

    Historic responsibility

    Led by Germany and the UK, the five North Sea producers account for over nine percent of total global greenhouse gas pollution from 1850 to 2021.

  • 436

    Oil and gas licenses awarded

    New licenses awarded in the North Sea countries since the Paris Agreement went into effect (2017-2023)

  • 18.96   billion

    Tons CO2 emissions

    Potential CO2 emissions from burning North Sea countries’ oil and gas resources

  • 87 %

    Norway and the UK’s share of North Sea potential emissions

    The percent of future CO2 emissions from burning North Sea countries’ oil and gas resources that come from Norway and the UK.

More details about our campaigns

There is no room for new oil and gas – anywhere. The truth is that there is no such thing as continued responsible, ‘green’ oil and gas production. The only responsible, green measure is a just transition away from fossil fuels. The North Sea countries have high historical responsibility for emissions, but also large capacities for a just transition (in part precisely because they have already exploited much of their oil and gas resources), giving them no excuse for dragging their feet.

If taken together, the North Sea countries would be the 7th largest producer country in the world, placing them ahead of the likes of Qatar and Iraq. This means the North Sea is a significant player – and therefore has every opportunity to provide a positive example to the rest of the world that there is life after fossil fuels.

Climate movements in both countries and across the North Sea have already achieved a number of successes in slowing their countries’ push for new oil and gas and public opinion is increasingly on the side of science and justice. We are working to continue strengthening those partners, contributing to the arguments and strategies needed to convince parties and actors inside and outside of current governments.

Latest North Sea Publications

Pay, Baby, Pay: Trump’s AI and energy dominance agenda means costlier LNG for Europe

The European Union is becoming increasingly reliant on U.S. liquefied natural gas even as U.S. fossil gas gets more expensive.

Asia’s gas gamble: Trump’s AI and energy dominance agenda means costlier LNG

Asia is central to plans for a massive expansion of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), but greater dependence on U.S. fossil gas will come at a cost.

Total Insecurity: How TotalEnergies’ LNG Trade Puts France and Europe at Risk

French oil giant TotalEnergies’ LNG into Europe risks European security, affordability, and climate goals. Total has imported three times as much LNG to Europe than any other company in recent years, and most of that LNG comes from the US and Russia. Europe’s best path to achieving security, affordability, and climate goals is to equitably phase out fossil fuels, accelerate energy efficiency, and transition to renewable energy.

Get updates on our North Sea work

Instead of heading full speed ahead with more oil and gas, the North Sea should be a beacon of a just transition away from fossil fuels. Sign up to our email list and receive the latest information about our work across the North Sea.

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