The British government is facing a landmark legal challenge over its climate change strategy at the High Court in London. The case, brought by environmental group Friends of the Earth and two individuals, argues that the government’s plans to protect people, property, and infrastructure from the effects of climate change are inadequate and unlawful. Friends of the Earth and the co-claimants contend that the National Adaptation Programme (NAP), designed to safeguard against rising temperatures, flooding, and coastal erosion, fails to comply with the 2008 Climate Change Act.
The independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) has also called for the NAP to be strengthened without delay, warning that it “falls far short of what is required.”
Kevin Jordan, 71, one of the co-claimants, saw his seaside home on the Norfolk coast demolished due to coastal erosion but never received state compensation. The other co-claimant, disability activist Doug Palley, lives in a care home in northern England and claims that hotter summers negatively impact his health, putting him at increased risk of serious harm. The claimants’ lawyers argue that the Conservative government, which was recently defeated in a general election, breached the rights of marginalized groups such as older and disabled people through its inadequate climate adaptation plans.
Government challenged on climate strategy
This case follows a historic ruling by the European Court of Human Rights against Switzerland in April, which deemed that the country was not doing enough to tackle climate change. The ruling was seen as potentially forcing other governments to adopt more ambitious climate policies.
In Britain, where temperatures exceeded 40 Celsius for the first time in 2022, the previous Tory government had rolled back on its climate commitments. The CCC has urged the new Labour government to act quickly to put the country back on track to meet its 2030 climate goals. The outcome of this court case could set a significant precedent for climate litigation in the UK and possibly influence policies and actions on climate change for years to come.
Lawyer Rowan Smith stated, “For the first time in UK legal history, the High Court will have to determine whether the government’s policy to adapt to climate change is lawful, including as to whether our clients’ human rights have been breached. This is truly a landmark climate change case, which is likely to have far-reaching implications for generations to come.”
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
