Greenpeace is taking legal action against the Norwegian Government for allowing oil companies to drill in the Arctic.

The environmental group, alongside Nature and Youth, stated in the lawsuit that Norway has violated the Paris Agreement and the people’s constitutional right to a healthy and safe environment for future generations.

Earlier this year, the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy awarded 10 new licences to energy companies for oil exploration in the Barent Sea.

The 13 companies that won the licences include ConocoPhillips, Chevron and Statoil and British firms Tullow, Centrica and Cairn Energy.

Norway was one of the first countries which ratificated the Paris Agreement. Other countries such as Bahamas, Ukraine and India have done it too while the UK, US and China are expected to do the same by the end of the year.

Truls Gulowsen from Greenpeace Norway said: “Signing an international climate agreement while throwing open the door to Arctic oil drilling is a dangerous act of hypocrisy. By allowing oil companies to drill in the Arctic, Norway risks undermining global efforts to address climate change. When the government fails to redress this we have to do what we can to stop it.”