A highly charged week in Edinburgh's Court of Session has drawn to a close as the judge retired to consider his decision on two major oil and gas developments.

With all the evidence and representations now heard, Lord Ericht retired to ponder his decision on whether or not to allow the government's approval of the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields to stand.

But while the initial hearing may have concluded, a final decision is likely to still be weeks, or even months away.

Environmental campaigners insist UK government failed to properly consider the environmental impact of the eventual burning of the fossil fuels produced by the North Sea fields.

The government gave the go-ahead for Rosebank and Jackdaw in 2023 and 2022 respectively.

But the UK Supreme Court ruled in a subsequent case that these emissions - known as scope three emissions - must be considered in environmental impact assessments alongside emissions caused by the extraction of the oil and gas itself.

Now, environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift are arguing in the Court of Session that this means work on the fields should be brought to a halt while a more comprehensive environmental impact assessment is carried out.

On Friday, the BBC reports, Lord Ericht appeared to sum up the position of the energy firms involved, suggesting the case amounted to them asking him to say: "I accept this decision is unlawful but I give it lawful effect."

As he retired to consider matters, he thanked the many lawyers for their "excellent contributions", adding: "It's a very difficult matter and it's a very important matter.

"I shall issue my judgment in due course."

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