Vessels that are used for towing oil rigs in the North Sea are moored up at William Wright docks in Hull, Britain November 2, 2017. REUTERS/Russell Boyce/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Britain's decision to authorise new licences for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea was lawful, London's High Court ruled on Thursday, dismissing a legal challenge by Greenpeace. Judge David Holgate rejected Greenpeace's case on Thursday, saying in a written ruling that the decision not to assess end-use emissions was not irrational. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson welcomed the decision. Britain says domestic oil and gas production is key to its plan to improve energy security and that doing so is consistent with its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

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Persons: William, Russell Boyce, David Holgate, Greenpeace's, Philip Evans, Tessa Khan, Sam Tobin, William James, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Greenpeace, Britain's Department for Energy Security, Department for Energy Security, Thomson Locations: William Wright, Hull, Britain, North, Europe