Children’s Access to Environmental Justice | Norway

This report looks at whether the laws and policies in Norway make it possible for children to access their environmental rights. 

Norway has seen some of the most high profile school-strikes for climate justice. We found that the country has generally responded in a way that respects children’s rights, including a call from  the Norwegian Culture Minister to schools not to penalise school children who participated in the “School Strike for Climate Change”. This is in line with the Constitution of Norway, which recognises the right of every person to an environment that is conducive to health and a natural environment whose productivity and diversity are maintained. The constitution also recognises the rights of future generations. Young people have been able to bring environmental cases to court, but with limited success to date. National courts have only been willing to consider addressing environmental problems for which legislators have not taken a position, which means that if the parliament has already passed a legislation on a certain environmental issue, the courts will not intervene. 

This report was edited in response to comments provided by a national expert and published in March 2022. To learn more read the full report below, and please get in touch if this information was useful and you want to talk more.