Environment Agency downgrading 93% of prosecutions for serious pollution – The Guardian

‘England’s Environment Agency has downgraded 93% of prosecutions for serious pollution over four years, despite recommendations from frontline staff for the perpetrators to face the highest sanction, a leaked report seen by the Guardian reveals.’

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The Guardian, 2nd March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Activists who occupied 100ft HS2 drilling rig convicted over protest – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2022 in criminal damage, demonstrations, environmental protection, news, trespass by tracey

‘Two environmental activists have been convicted of charges relating to a protest against HS2 after occupying a 100ft-high drilling rig to highlight damage they claimed the rail project was causing to London’s drinking water supply.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK drops ‘absurd’ case against Greenpeace for dropping rocks in sea – The Guardian

Posted February 8th, 2022 in demonstrations, environmental protection, fisheries, licensing, news, prosecutions by sally

‘The government agency charged with protecting the marine environment has dropped its case against Greenpeace over a protest intended to obstruct destructive fishing practices in UK coastal conservation areas.’

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The Guardian, 7th February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Oatly ads banned by UK watchdog over ‘misleading’ green claims – The Guardian

‘The UK advertising watchdog has banned a high-profile marketing campaign by Swedish alt-milk brand Oatly after ruling its green claims were misleading.’

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The Guardian, 26th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bakery handed £26k fine after dishwasher pollutes stream – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 21st, 2022 in environmental protection, fines, local government, news, pollution, Wales, waste, water by sally

‘A Natural Resources Wales (NRW) prosecution has seen a bakery fined for polluting a stream with its dishwasher.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th January 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK government sued over ‘pie-in-the-sky’ net-zero climate strategy – The Guardian

‘The UK government is being sued over its net zero climate strategy, which lawyers argue illegally fails to include the policies needed to deliver the promised cuts in emissions.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Waste is only waste if we waste it* – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 10th, 2022 in bills, environmental protection, food, local government, news, waste by tracey

‘Michael Mousdale examines the measures in relation to waste enforcement and regulation set out in Part 3 of the Environment Act 2021 and assesses their impact on local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th January 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Climate lawyer loses supreme court appeal over Heathrow leak – The Guardian

‘A lawyer and climate campaigner who leaked the result of a supreme court ruling on the Heathrow airport expansion has lost an appeal against a contempt of court finding.’

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The Guardian, 20th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: Her Majesty’s Attorney General v Crosland [2021] UKSC 58 – UKSC Blog

‘The court unanimously dismissed this appeal concerning whether the Supreme Court was wrong to decide that the appellant’s disclosure of the result of the Heathrow appeal, in breach of an embargo on the Court’s judgment, constituted a contempt of court. Furthermore, did the Court then wrongly impose a fine of £5,000 on the appellant, and wrongly order him to pay the respondent’s costs in the sum of £15,000?’

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UKSC Blog, 20th December 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

UK fishing licences for bottom-trawling could be unlawful, says Oceana – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2021 in environmental protection, government departments, licensing, news by michael

‘The British government’s granting of fishing licences to more than 1,000 UK and EU vessels for 2022, which will permit bottom-trawling and dredging in marine protected areas, could be unlawful unless conditions to safeguard ocean habitats are imposed, the conservation group Oceana says.’

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The Guardian, 17th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog overturns ban on advert of Land Rover in forest – The Guardian

Posted November 24th, 2021 in advertising, complaints, coronavirus, environmental protection, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Environmental campaigners have accused the UK advertising watchdog of bias for overturning a draft ruling that banned adverts for a mud-splattered Land Rover Defender off-roader after previously saying it encouraged “socially irresponsible” driving that could “cause damage to vulnerable habitats”.’

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The Guardian, 24th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2021 c. 32 – Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Act 2021

2021 c. 31 – Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021

2021 c. 30 – Environment Act 2021

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Court of Appeal hears challenge over whether council should have considered full climate impacts when approving drilling for oil – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal is this week hearing a key case on the lawful interpretation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations and the end product of developments.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th November 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Act – legislation.gov.uk

Posted November 17th, 2021 in climate change, environmental protection, legislation by tracey

2021 c. 30 – Environment Act 2021

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

What is ecocide and how does it affect our rights? – Each Other

‘Voices from around the world have called for leaders at COP26 to create international law against ‘ecocide’. Lucy Skoulding explores what ecocide means and how existing legislation could be used to prevent it.’

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Each Other, 4th November 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Landowner jailed after breach of injunction prohibiting development in woodland – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 2nd, 2021 in environmental protection, injunctions, news, planning, sentencing, trees by sally

‘A landowner who breached a High Court injunction preventing illegal development on woodland has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

ULEZ: New pollution charge zone to begin in London – BBC News

‘In less than a week, ULEZ will become ULEX. If you live in London and drive an older diesel or petrol car, radical changes are just around the corner.’

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BBC News, 19th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Insulate Britain: Injunction banning protests on London’s roads extended – BBC News

‘An injunction to ban Insulate Britain protesters from holding demonstrations on London’s roads has been extended.’

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BBC News, 19th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK firms will have to disclose climate impact – BBC News

Posted October 19th, 2021 in climate change, company law, disclosure, environmental protection, news by tracey

‘Some large UK businesses will have to start disclosing their environmental impact, under new rules set to be brought in by the Treasury.’

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BBC News, 18th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Euston tunnel HS2 protesters walk free from court – The Guardian

Posted October 8th, 2021 in demonstrations, environmental protection, news, railways, trespass by tracey

‘Six environmental protesters who occupied a tunnel close to Euston station in protest against the HS2 high-speed link earlier this year walked free from court after charges in connection with the occupation were dismissed by a judge.’

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The Guardian, 6th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com