British Government’s Climate Action Plan Declared Illegal by Highest Court Due to Insufficient Evidence: Major Review Ordered

Britain’s highest court has ruled that the British Government’s climate action plan is “illegal” because there is insufficient evidence that the policies are in practice to meet the 2030 emissions reduction target.

Judge Clive Sheldon ruled for the groups Friends of the Earth, Client Earth and The Good Law Project, which brought the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to court. Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho now has 12 months to carry out a major review of policies to meet the targets included in the sixth carbon budget, which runs until 2037.

It’s about the the second time the British courts have ruled against the government’s climate policy. The new ruling comes months after the Climate Change Committee confirmed that the Government has put in place “credible policies” to comply with just 20% of the sixth carbon budget.

The lawsuit specifically mentions the Carbon Budget Action Plan (CBDP), approved in March 2023 by then Energy Secretary Grant Shapps. Environmental groups claim that there are information gaps in the plan and which does not comply with the requirements of the Climate Change Actwhich requires proposals to be consistent with emission reduction goals.

he is prince Environmental groups and members of his own party have accused Rishi Sunak to sign part of the commitments made by Boris Johnson a day ago, who set in the run-up to the Climate Conference in Glasgow (COP26) the goal of a 68% reduction in emissions in 2030, the most advanced level in Europe.

The British Government has responded in the meantime, claiming that the United Kingdom “is there proud of his climate record“and that it will be the first major global economy to halve its emissions. “We do not believe that a court case over the process is the best way to drive progress towards our goal general to reach net zero,” said a government spokesman.

The protest groups emphasize the conflict between the objectives of the Government and the objectives of the Government issuing new licenses for the use of gas and oil in the North Sea, including drilling under offshore wind turbines which has been criticized as “very reckless” by experts.