Britain leads the world in cracking down on climate activism, study finds – The Guardian

‘British police arrest environmental protesters at nearly three times the global average rate, research has found, revealing the country as a world leader in the legal crackdown on climate activism.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by the Master of the Rolls: Are rights sufficiently human in the age of the machine? – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 2nd, 2024 in artificial intelligence, climate change, human rights, judges, news, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by the Master of the Rolls: Are rights sufficiently human in the age of the machine?.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 27th November 2024

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Man who lost home to coastal erosion loses court case against UK government – The Guardian

‘An East Anglian man who lost his home to coastal erosion has lost his high court challenge against the government’s climate adaptation plans.’

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The Guardian, 25th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Oil-drilling expansion challenge to go uncontested – BBC News

‘A legal challenge against the expansion of an oil-drilling site in North Lincolnshire is to be uncontested.’

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BBC News, 24th October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court judge gives reasons for granting councils five-year injunction over Just Stop Oil protests – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted Thurrock Council and Essex County Council a five-year injunction subject to yearly review against persons unknown in response to protest activity by Just Stop Oil.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Met Police ‘didn’t get everything right’ as report shows impact of protests on tourism and public services – The Independent

‘The Metropolitan Police “didn’t get everything right” in policing recent large-scale protests, as a new report reveals the impact caused on tourism, retail and public service finances.’

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The Independent, 9th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The recent sentencing of climate protestors – Six Pump Court

‘On 18th July 2024, attentions were drawn to the sentences received by five Just Stop Oil activists, including its co-founder, Roger Hallam, for the offence of conspiracy to intentionally cause a public nuisance, namely by disrupting traffic on the M25.[1] Mr Hallam received a sentence of five years and the others received sentences of four years. Many viewed the sentences as excessive and repressive considering that the protests were peaceful,[2] despite causing large-scale disruption with significant economic consequences.’

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Six Pump Court, 9th August 2024

Source: 6pumpcourt.co.uk

GP deemed unfit to practice after unlawful protests – BBC News

‘A tribunal has ruled that a retired GP, who caused criminal damage during climate protests, committed professional misconduct and is unfit to practice.’

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BBC News, 19th August 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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

The (Shifting) Audience of Energy Law – King’s Law Journal

Posted July 31st, 2024 in climate change, energy, housing, news by sally

‘Energy is key to our climate goals, our economy and our everyday lives: from the electricity that is now powering your laptop, the stove that cooks your food, to the energy used by the factory that has produced your shoes. Energy prices in the UK rose dramatically between 2021 and 2023, increasing the strain on household-level and public costs.’

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King's Law Journal, 28th July 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

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

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

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

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

Planning authorities must take account of global emissions in approvals for oil and gas fields – Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 2nd, 2024 in climate change, local government, news, oil wells, Supreme Court by tracey

‘R (on the application of Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group) (Appellant) v Surrey County Council and others (Respondents). A detailed summary of the issues and the facts in this case can be found in the Supreme Court’s Press Release. The report below gives a very short account of these followed by a focus on the majority and dissenting judgments. I quote Lord Sales in some detail as the concerns expressed in his dissent will only prevail if Parliament were to legislate for them to do so.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st July 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Climate Change must be counted – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘Vivienne Sedgley and Simon Randle have put together a detailed analysis of a significant development from the Supreme Court in R (Finch) v Surrey County Council [2024] UKSC 20. This landmark decision mandates that Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) must consider not just emissions during oil extraction but also those from the eventual use of the oil as fuel.’

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4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, 25th June 2024

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

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

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