On Friday, a High Court judge declared that the UK government had acted unlawfully by approving a climate plan without sufficient evidence to ensure its success.
This marks the second time in two years that the government’s main strategy to combat climate change has been deemed insufficient by the courts.
Justice Clive Sheldon sided with three environmental groups who had challenged the government’s Carbon Budget Delivery Plan. The plan, which was approved last year, aimed to help the UK achieve its climate targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds of 1990 levels by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
The judge criticized the plan for lacking clear details and evidence to justify its approval. He noted that the draft plan was vague and failed to provide adequate information for officials to make informed decisions.
Lawyers representing the environmental groups argued that the government did not share crucial information, such as “risk tables,” with Parliament and others, making it impossible to properly scrutinize the plan.
Sam Hunter Jones, a lawyer for one of the groups, shed light on the significance of the ruling, stating that it highlighted the inadequacy of the government’s climate strategy. He called for credible action to address the climate crisis and urged the government to deliver a plan that could be trusted to achieve its aim.
The government defended its approach to climate change, stating that it had provided more detail than any other G20 country on how it planned to meet its carbon reduction targets. However, it acknowledged the court’s ruling and committed to publishing a new report within 12 months.
Previous year, the UK government’s own climate advisers expressed concerns about its ability to meet emission targets and criticized officials for not following through on commitments to reduce fossil fuel usage.
The ruling underscores the growing pressure on governments worldwide to take decisive action to combat climate change and meet international obligations. It serves as a reminder of the significance of transparent and evidence-based policies in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
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