‘Climate campaigners have launched a formal legal challenge against the government’s green recovery plans, claiming they are inadequate and “clearly unlawful” in light of the UK’s obligations to reduce emissions.’
The Guardian, 21st July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘This case is a High Court challenge by statutory judicial review to the Secretary of State’s decision to grant a development consent order for the construction and operation of two gas-fired generating units at an existing coal-fired power station site in Yorkshire. The decision was contrary to the recommendation of her examining Panel. The challenge was unsuccessful largely because the Panel itself had made an error which the Secretary of State declined to follow. The Panel had misinterpreted national policy on the assessment of “need” for the development and the Secretary of State had been entitled to conclude that that need outweighed the substantial adverse environmental impacts of the proposed development.’
No. 5 Chambers, 30th June 2020
Source: www.no5.com
‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Nicholas Ostrowski, Natasha Hausdorff and Mark Davies consider a new consultation on the England Tree Strategy, a progress report from the Committee on Climate Change and the launch of a new National Framework for Water Resources.’
Six Pump Court, 2nd July 2020
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
‘Boris Johnson’s much-vaunted green recovery plans are inadequate and “clearly unlawful” as they do not match up to the government’s legal obligations under the Paris climate agreement and the UK’s own net zero emissions target, green campaigners have said.’
The Guardian, 7th July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Mr Justice Holgate has given judgment in ClientEarth’s judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to make a development consent order for the construction of two gas-fired units, and related development, at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire (R (ClientEarth) v SSBEIS [2020] EWHC 1303 (Admin)).’
Francis Taylor Building, 22nd May 2020
Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk
‘The government faces a legal challenge over a set of “outdated” energy policies which are being used to approve fossil fuel projects even after it vowed to end Britain’s contribution to the climate crisis.’
The Guardian, 18th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Campaigners have launched a legal challenge to try to prevent billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being spent on a huge road-building programme, which they say breaches the UK’s legal commitments to tackle the climate crisis and air pollution.’
The Guardian, 21st April 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Energy expert Thomas Muinzer and David Hart QC discuss the Climate Change Act, the extent to which the UK has reached its own goals for carbon emission reduction, and two recent challenges in the courts to projects involving GHG emissions. This is even more topical, given the recent decision to go ahead HS2, despite the current lockdown.’
Law Pod UK, 17th April 2020
Source: audioboom.com
‘The 2015 Paris Agreement committed governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming below 2°C, and drive efforts to limit the rise to 1.5°C. The UK Government has since revised the Climate Change Act 2008 to implement a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050.’
Technology Law Update, 1st April 2020
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
‘The High Court has today handed down judgment in the VW NOx Emissions Group Litigation – the class action arising out of what is often described as the ‘emissions scandal’. Following a two-week trial of two preliminary issues, Mr Justice Waksman has found that the controversial engine software function amounts to a ‘defeat device’ for the purpose of EU law, and that previous findings of the relevant German authorities were binding on the High Court in that respect.’
Blackstone Chambers, 6th April 2020
Source: www.blackstonechambers.com
‘Broadcaster Chris Packham is to seek permission to appeal a Divisional Court ruling that dismissed his review challenge over the Transport Secretary’s decision to continue with the HS2 rail project.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘On 24 March 2020, the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill 2020 was introduced into the House of Commons, for its first reading, by Caroline Lucas MP. The Bill had been introduced into the House of Lords on 21 October 2019, by Baroness Jenny Jones, on behalf of Lord John Bird (who is best known as the founder of Big Issue). Whilst the Bill is not supported by the Government, it has garnered cross party support, and the Bill’s co-sponsors are drawn from all of the major UK political parties.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 7th April 2020
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Thousands of UK motorists have won the first stage of a High Court action against Volkswagen over the installation of emissions cheating devices in its diesel vehicles.’
BBC News, 6th April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Lawyers for five peaceful protestors, supported by the Weald Action Group, have applied to the High Court to bring an end to an interim injunction against protest at oil sites in Surrey and Sussex in line with a new Court of Appeal ruling.’
Garden Court Chambers, 1st April 2020
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘While thousands of coronavirus sufferers around the world will be getting doctors’ notes to excuse them from work, Chinese businesses have been getting ‘force majeure certificates’ from their government to excuse them from contractual performance.’
Law Society's Gazette, 25th March 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Good news from the crisis front, although I’m afraid not the one we’re all thinking of: the government’s Agriculture Bill, which sets out its major post-Brexit agricultural policy, has recently passed committee stage and will soon (coronavirus permitting) be presented to the House of Lords. It shows ambition from the government to develop a post-Brexit agriculture policy with laudable commitments to harnessing the power of farmers to help address the climate crisis, and helps to address issues such as food security. Along with the Environment Bill, discussed here, it constitutes some of the core legislation aimed at achieving the government’s Net Zero by 2050 goal.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd March 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘In this latest environmental law news update Charles Morgan and Christopher Badger consider environmental promises in this week’s budget, effects on the environment from the coronavirus and a new report that says net zero by 2050 is possible.’
Six Pump Court, 12th March 2020
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
‘Airport expansion has taken a long and winding road, not least at Heathrow. But the proponents of the 3rd runway at Heathrow would have been heartened by the Secretary of State’s decision in June 2018 to set out a policy which preferred Heathrow over Gatwick and which was designed to steer planning processes thereafter in support of the new runway.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 27th February 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘TV naturalist Chris Packham has launched a legal challenge to HS2 high-speed rail link.’
BBC News, 3rd March 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport have been thrown into doubt after a court ruling.’
BBC News, 27th February 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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