The London court's decision would allow Greenpeace a judicial review of the licenses announced as part of an energy strategy aimed at freeing the United Kingdom from dependence on Russian oil and gas following its Ukraine invasion.
More than 100 requests for licenses have been submitted, according to Greenpeace.
"This verdict is the first real setback for the government's reckless oil and gas licensing round," said Philip Evans, a climate campaigner for Greenpeace.
"Ministers will now be forced to justify in front of a judge why they want to unleash a new drilling frenzy in the North Sea against the advice of leading scientists and the UN chief, without assessing the climate impact," he added.
The department for energy security did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
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