Ivory ban upheld by Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The overarching complaint was that the evidence base was insufficient. The appellant’s criticisms of Jay J’s analysis can be summarised as follows:

(i) wrongful use of the precautionary principle and the acceptance of inadequate evidence to support the bans;

(ii) failure to take account of the failings in the Impact Assessment which preceded the Bill and the according of too much deference to Parliament; and

(iii) violation of the principle of respect for property and the wrongful failure to require a right to compensation.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th May 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Farmers lose legal challenge to cancellation of Derbyshire badger cull – The Guardian

Farmers have lost a challenge to the government’s cancellation of the badger cull in Derbyshire in a high court ruling that has been welcomed by wildlife groups.

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The Guardian, 13th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Company Director Disqualification in the Criminal Courts – Henderson Chambers

‘Criminal courts have sweeping powers to disqualify directors arising from prosecutions for regulatory crime, with far-reaching consequences for companies and individuals. This Alerter provides an essential guide for practitioners to approaching director’s disqualification orders at a time when the HSE, Environment Agency and other regulators show a growing appetite to prosecute individuals.’

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Henderson Chambers, 29th April 2020

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What is Carbon Credit Fraud? – St Paul’s Chambers

‘Carbon credit VAT fraud has been the subject of an increased investigation by the government and prosecuting authorities, but the bodies generating carbon credits are usually based overseas and authorities in the UK have no control of the quality or validity of the carbon credit schemes.’

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St Paul's Chambers, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.stpaulschambers.com

Campaigners take legal action over £27bn UK road-building scheme – The Guardian

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in climate change, environmental protection, news, planning, roads, transport by sally

‘Campaigners have launched a legal challenge to try to prevent billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being spent on a huge road-building programme, which they say breaches the UK’s legal commitments to tackle the climate crisis and air pollution.’

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The Guardian, 21st April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fisheries Bill 2020: What Does it have in Stock? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in bills, brexit, EC law, environmental protection, fisheries, news by sally

‘The Fisheries Bill 2020, part of the government’s core legislative program on post-Brexit environmental policy, is currently in the House of Lords at committee stage, and is expected to receive royal assent in the coming months (although exactly when is subject to how successfully the House of Lords can adapt to meeting via Microsoft Teams). It would establish Britain’s departure from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) on January 1st 2021, and sets out how fishing rights would work post transition period and CFP.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st April 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

EP 107: Climate Change and Lock Down – Thomas Muinzer & David Hart QC – Law Pod UK

‘Energy expert Thomas Muinzer and David Hart QC discuss the Climate Change Act, the extent to which the UK has reached its own goals for carbon emission reduction, and two recent challenges in the courts to projects involving GHG emissions. This is even more topical, given the recent decision to go ahead HS2, despite the current lockdown.’

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Law Pod UK, 17th April 2020

Source: audioboom.com

Lawyers versus climate change – the Climate Contract Playbook – Technology Law Update

Posted April 16th, 2020 in climate change, environmental protection, legal profession, news by sally

‘The 2015 Paris Agreement committed governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming below 2°C, and drive efforts to limit the rise to 1.5°C. The UK Government has since revised the Climate Change Act 2008 to implement a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050.’

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Technology Law Update, 1st April 2020

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Crossley & Ors v Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (the “VW NOx Emissions Group Litigation”) – Blackstone Chambers

‘The High Court has today handed down judgment in the VW NOx Emissions Group Litigation – the class action arising out of what is often described as the ‘emissions scandal’. Following a two-week trial of two preliminary issues, Mr Justice Waksman has found that the controversial engine software function amounts to a ‘defeat device’ for the purpose of EU law, and that previous findings of the relevant German authorities were binding on the High Court in that respect.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 6th April 2020

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Chris Packham to seek permission to appeal dismissal of HS2 challenge – Local Government Lawyer

‘Broadcaster Chris Packham is to seek permission to appeal a Divisional Court ruling that dismissed his review challenge over the Transport Secretary’s decision to continue with the HS2 rail project.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Gethin Thomas: Back to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘On 24 March 2020, the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill 2020 was introduced into the House of Commons, for its first reading, by Caroline Lucas MP. The Bill had been introduced into the House of Lords on 21 October 2019, by Baroness Jenny Jones, on behalf of Lord John Bird (who is best known as the founder of Big Issue). Whilst the Bill is not supported by the Government, it has garnered cross party support, and the Bill’s co-sponsors are drawn from all of the major UK political parties.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 7th April 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

UK drivers win first round in VW ‘dieselgate’ case – BBC News

‘Thousands of UK motorists have won the first stage of a High Court action against Volkswagen over the installation of emissions cheating devices in its diesel vehicles.’

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BBC News, 6th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HS2 wood clearance to go ahead as Chris Packham legal bid fails – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2020 in environmental protection, injunctions, judicial review, news, railways by sally

‘The clearing of ancient woods for HS2 is to proceed this month after the high court refused an emergency injunction and judicial review of the government’s decision to proceed with the high-speed railway.’

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Infrastructure and the Environment – some learning from Heathrow – No. 5 Chambers

‘At present, the contest between need and the environmental effects of expansion of Heathrow has been settled by a virus. The Government advises against all international travel. In the minds of many, and in particular the media, R (oao) Planet B Earth v Secretary of State for Transport [2020] EWCA Civ 214, is a case about climate change and, of course, it is. But it is also a case which yields learning in a host of other areas. This short piece highlights one of them. It is this question: in a technical or scientific case, how closely will the court mark the parties’ homework? Is it ‘tick and flick’ or PhD viva? As always, lawyers have coined their own term – ‘intrusiveness of review’.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 19th March 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Application to end draconian UKOG injunction banning peaceful protest at oil sites in Surrey and Sussex – Garden Court Chambers

‘Lawyers for five peaceful protestors, supported by the Weald Action Group, have applied to the High Court to bring an end to an interim injunction against protest at oil sites in Surrey and Sussex in line with a new Court of Appeal ruling.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 1st April 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Chris Packham begins legal case to halt HS2 amid coronavirus crisis – The Guardian

‘Chris Packham is seeking an urgent injunction to immediately halt HS2’s destruction of ancient woodlands as campaigners criticise construction teams for allegedly ignoring the government’s physical distancing rules for coronavirus and endangering local people.’

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The Guardian, 27th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Agriculture Bill: “The chickens will win every time” – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 24th, 2020 in agriculture, bills, climate change, environmental protection, news, standards by sally

‘Good news from the crisis front, although I’m afraid not the one we’re all thinking of: the government’s Agriculture Bill, which sets out its major post-Brexit agricultural policy, has recently passed committee stage and will soon (coronavirus permitting) be presented to the House of Lords. It shows ambition from the government to develop a post-Brexit agriculture policy with laudable commitments to harnessing the power of farmers to help address the climate crisis, and helps to address issues such as food security. Along with the Environment Bill, discussed here, it constitutes some of the core legislation aimed at achieving the government’s Net Zero by 2050 goal.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd March 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

‘In this latest environmental law news update Charles Morgan and Christopher Badger consider environmental promises in this week’s budget, effects on the environment from the coronavirus and a new report that says net zero by 2050 is possible.’

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Six Pump Court, 12th March 2020

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

CA declares Heathrow expansion decision unlawful on climate change grounds – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 4th, 2020 in airports, appeals, climate change, environmental protection, news, planning by sally

‘Airport expansion has taken a long and winding road, not least at Heathrow. But the proponents of the 3rd runway at Heathrow would have been heartened by the Secretary of State’s decision in June 2018 to set out a policy which preferred Heathrow over Gatwick and which was designed to steer planning processes thereafter in support of the new runway.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th February 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

HS2: Chris Packham launches legal challenge to rail link – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2020 in budgets, climate change, delay, environmental protection, news, railways by sally

‘TV naturalist Chris Packham has launched a legal challenge to HS2 high-speed rail link.’

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BBC News, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk