THE British government was in court today as Greenpeace challenged the decision to grant BP a permit to drill for 30 million barrels of oil without taking climate impacts into account. 

In a landmark case just two months before global climate talks in Glasgow, Greenpeace called for the government’s decision on the Vorlich North Sea oil field to be overturned, and for BP’s permit to be revoked.

The case is the first time an offshore oil permit has been challenged in court and could have ramifications for future oil permit decisions, including proposals for the controversial Cambo site off Shetland.