Government drops appeal over climate activist who held sign outside UK court – The Guardian

‘The government has dropped an appeal against a judge’s decision to throw out a contempt case against a woman who stood outside a climate activist trial holding a placard about jury rights.’

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The Guardian, 15th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog bans Gemma Collins advert promoting headset to treat depression – The Guardian

‘An Instagram post by Gemma Collins in which she promoted wearing a headset to fight depression instead of seeking professional medical advice and treatment has been banned by the UK advertising watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 7th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Juror swears oath on river in legal first – BBC News

Posted August 2nd, 2024 in environmental health, environmental protection, juries, news, water by michael

‘Paul Powlesland was not far off quoting Shakespeare when he became probably the first juror in history to swear a legal oath on a river.’

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BBC News, 2nd August 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court injunction bans protesters from M25 – BBC News

‘A High Court order aiming to prevent protesters from disrupting the M25 has been extended.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

JSO pair told to expect jail over soup on painting – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2024 in artistic works, criminal damage, environmental protection, news by sally

‘Two Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists who threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers have been found guilty of criminal damage.’

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BBC News, 25th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK government faces claim over alleged failure to protect people in climate crisis – The Guardian

In December, council officials ordered Kevin Jordan to leave his home, warning him it was at risk of falling into the sea at any moment.

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The Guardian, 23rd July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Not acceptable in a democracy’: UN expert condemns lengthy Just Stop Oil sentences – The Guardian

‘The lengthy multi-year sentences handed to Just Stop Oil activists are “not acceptable in a democracy”, a UN special rapporteur has said, as the government faced growing pressure to reverse the previous administration’s “hardline anti-protest” approach.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil protesters jailed after M25 blocked – BBC News

‘Five environmental activists who organised protests that brought part of the M25 to a standstill over four days have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 18th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appropriate assessment and multi-stage consents – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 18th, 2024 in EC law, environmental protection, news, planning by michael

‘The Court of Appeal has clarified the requirement for appropriate assessment in multi-stage consents. Barristers at Landmark Chambers explain the ruling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th July 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Habitats Assessments: It’s not too late and everything is included – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Posted July 17th, 2024 in chambers articles, environmental protection, news, planning, regulations by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has held that regulation 63 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017/1012 can require an assessment (i.e. a habitats regulations assessment, “HRA”) to be undertaken at the discharge of conditions stage – even if the outstanding conditions do not themselves concern habitats matters. This is important because it means the discharge of conditions cannot simply ride on the coat-tails of the outline permission.’

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4-5 Gray’s Inn Square , 15th July 2024

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

What restrictions are placed on defendants in climate protest trials? – The Guardian

‘The chaotic scenes inside and outside court at the trial of five people accused of conspiring to block traffic on the M25 in 2022 have highlighted restrictions placed on defendants in a number of climate protest trials that people are seeking to challenge, but risk falling foul of the law as they seek to do so. Here the Guardian explains the basis of the restrictions and why they are so contentious.’

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The Guardian, 11th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil activists found guilty of conspiring to block M25 traffic – The Guardian

‘Five environmental activists are facing long sentences after they were found guilty of conspiring to block traffic on the M25, after a trial in which the defendants were arrested various times for defying the court.’

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The Guardian, 11th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Important Privy Council decision on standing in environmental cases – 39 Essex Chambers

‘The UK privy Council has handed down an important judgement on standing in environmental cases in Eco-Sud v. Minister of Environment, Solid Waste and Climate Change [2024] UKPC 19.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 9th July 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Carbon emissions and causation: R (Finch) v Surrey County Council and ors – 4 New Square

‘In this post, 4 New Square Chambers’ Alex Forzani explores the Supreme Court’s decision in R (Finch) v Surrey County Council [2024] UKSC 20 and analyses its implications on the scope of environmental impact assessments. The judgment is likely to have significant implications on the development of, and investment in, new projects in the UK.’

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4 New Square, 2nd July 2024

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Government hit with judicial review after excluding onshore wind from energy policy – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted the Good Law Project permission to challenge the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s decision to exclude onshore wind from its policy on energy infrastructure.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lake District sewage campaigners launch nuisance complaint in legal first – The Guardian

‘Campaigners fighting to stop sewage discharges into Windermere, the Lake District’s largest lake, have made a statutory nuisance complaint against a water company in the first legal action of its kind.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Planning, Environment and Property Newsletter – Summer 2024 Edition – 39 Essex Chambers

‘Welcome to the Summer 2024 edition of the 39 Essex Chambers’ Planning, Environment and Property newsletter. With the general election campaign underway and focusing more on national service than national planning policy frameworks, Paul Stinchcombe KC topically kicks off this edition by considering the grant of planning permission for 721 dwellings in Green Belt land and whether politics really plays that much part in the process.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 10th June 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Supreme Court decision defines scope of EIA around fossil fuel ’indirect effects’ – OUT-LAW.com

‘When deciding whether to grant planning consent for development, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should consider the downstream, indirect greenhouse gas emissions effects of the development in some cases, the UK Supreme Court has ruled, demonstrating a significant development for environmental law.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th June 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Welsh Water fined over mystery sewage dumps in River Wye – The Independent

‘A water company fined £90,000 for dumping sewage into a river has been unable to explain two of the spillages.’

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The Independent, 22nd June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Oceans group takes UK government to court over oil and gas licences – The Guardian

‘A marine conservation group has initiated legal action against the UK government, claiming the Conservatives’ decision to issue North Sea oil and gas licences without taking into account their impact on the environment was unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com