Sheffield tree activists in legal talks to get convictions quashed – The Guardian
‘Move comes after investigation into city council found it fell far short of good practice.’
The Guardian, 24th July 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Category: environmental protection
Is waste crime the “new narcotics”? Why the conviction of Biffa is important to criminal and regulatory lawyers – Insights from Christopher Sykes – Doughty Street Chambers
‘Crime and punishment are common fodder for British newspapers. Offences of violence, sex, and dishonesty are the usual (and depressing) themes for journalists in need of a headline. Last month, however, the Metro covered the trial of a more unusual suspect.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 4th July 2019
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
Governments and firms in 28 countries sued over climate crisis – report – The Guardian
‘Climate action lawsuits against governments and corporations have spread across 28 countries, according to a new analysis.’
The Guardian, 4th July 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court
‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Christopher Badger considers the decision by Ofwat to impose a financial penalty on Southern Water for failings in the performance of its wastewater operations, the imposition of over £3.7 million of civil sanctions on charitable organisations for environmental offences and further developments in the Manchester Ship Canal case.’
Six Pump Court, 26th June 2019
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
The Heathrow judgment: what we learned about climate change law – Six Pump Court
‘The High Court judgment in the Heathrow third runway case is arguably the most extensive judicial reasoning on current UK climate change law to date.’
Six Pump Court, 25th June 2019
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
Anti-fracking activists breached injunction, judge rules – The Guardian
‘Three anti-fracking protesters have been found to have breached an injunction designed to stop them demonstrating outside a fracking site in Lancashire, which they say has a “chilling effect on the right to peaceful protest”.’
The Guardian, 28th June 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Extinction Rebellion protester convicted of public order offence – The Guardian
‘The first person to face trial over the Extinction Rebellion protests in April has been found guilty of a minor public order offence for blocking a road in central London.’
The Guardian, 25th June 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
M4 Newport relief road scrapped: environment v economics – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Plans to build a fourteen mile, six lane motorway through the Gwent Levels south of Newport to relieve congestion on the M4 have been scrapped by the Welsh government. The announcement by first minister Mark Drakeford was welcomed by environmentalists, local residents and small businesses who opposed the scheme at last year’s public inquiry. Alasdair Henderson, Dominic Ruck Keene and Hannah Noyce from 1 Crown Office Row with other barristers from Guildhall Chambers (Brendon Moorhouse) and Garden Court (Irena Sabic and Grace Brown) represented Gwent Wildlife Trust and an umbrella of other environmental objectors in the proceedings which lasted from February 2017 to September 2018. All these barristers acted for free.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 24th June 2019
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Ep 85: M4 relief road U-turn – Alasdair Henderson – Law Pod UK
‘Rosalind English talks to Alasdair Henderson about the Welsh government U-turn on the M4 relief road. Alasdair acted for some of the objectors in the inquiry and regards it as “probably one of the biggest environmental success stores in terms of challenging a major infrastructure project on environmental grounds.’
Law Pod UK, 24th June 2019
Source: audioboom.com
Government faces legal action over changes to Brexit laws which ‘weaken environmental protections’ – The Independent
‘The government’s repeated promises of a “green Brexit” with the introduction of strong environmental protections to replace existing EU laws appear to be in doubt due to “behind the scenes” changes to government powers in the Withdrawal Act, campaigners say.’
The Independent, 21st June 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
UK accused of ‘silently eroding’ EU pesticide rules in Brexit laws – The Guardian
‘The UK has been accused of “silently eroding” key environmental and human health protections in the Brexit-inspired rush to convert thousands of pages of European Union pesticide policy into British law.’
The Guardian, 12th June 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Carbon credits fraud trial collapses after expert witness found to have no expertise – The Independent
‘A carbon credits trial collapsed after an expert witness was found to be unqualified, and more than 20 fraud trials could be declared unsafe.’
The Independent, 30th May 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Financial regulators focus on climate change risk – OUT-LAW.com
‘In early May the UK government became the first in the world to declare an environment and climate change emergency. The impact of climate change will affect every aspect of daily life, and generates a number of significant financial risks.’
OUT-LAW.com, 21st May 2019
Source: www.out-law.com
Extinction Rebellion founder cleared over King’s College protest – The Guardian
‘The founder of Extinction Rebellion has been cleared by a jury of all charges relating to a protest against fossil fuels in what campaigners say is a historic moment for the climate justice movement.’
The Guardian, 9th May 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Councils fail in legal challenge over Heathrow Airport expansion – Local Government Lawyer
‘A Divisional Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by five councils, the Mayor of London and a number of other claimants over the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision to designate the Airports National Policy Statement (“ANPS”), which sets out that the Government’s preferred location for additional airport capacity in the South East of England is a new runway at Heathrow.’
Local Government Lawyer, 1st May 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Liverpool judge refuses to move huge claim to London – Litigation Futures
‘The High Court in Liverpool has refused to transfer one of the biggest claims ever filed in this country to the Rolls Building in London.’
Litigation Futures, 24th April 2019
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
“Persons unknown” injunctions against future protest action – UK Human Rights Blog
‘In Boyd & Anor v Ineos Upstream Ltd & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 515, the Court of Appeal handed down a fascinating judgment exploring the tension between the exercise of the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression and the protection of property rights.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 10th April 2019
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Clean air zones: Where will UK drivers pay for polluting? – BBC News
‘Drivers of the most polluting vehicles now have to pay to drive into central London – and soon other towns and cities across the UK will follow suit.’
BBC News. 12th April 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New Judgment: Vedanta Resources PLC & Anor v Lungowe & Ors [2019] UKSC 20 – UKSC Blog
‘1826 Zambian citizens issued proceedings against Zambian company KCM and Vedanta (KCM’s ultimate parent company) for personal injury, damage to property and loss of income, amenity and enjoyment of land as a result of pollution and environmental damage caused by discharges of harmful effluent from the Nchanga mine since 2005. Vedanta was served within the jurisdiction, while KCM was served out of the jurisdiction, with permission obtained on a without notice application. In September and October 2015 Vedanta and KCM respectively applied for declarations that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the claims or, alternatively, that it should not exercise such jurisdiction that it might have. Coulson J dismissed those applications. The Court of Appeal upheld the dismissal of those applications.’
UKSC Blog, 10th April 2019
Source: ukscblog.com
ULEZ: New pollution charge begins in London – BBC News
‘Drivers of older, more polluting vehicles are being charged to enter the congestion zone area at any time.’
BBC News, 8th April 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
