Category: environmental protection

The UK Bill of Rights: Changes to Human Rights Protection may Impact Climate Litigation – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted May 23rd, 2023 in bills, climate change, environmental protection, human rights, news, statutory interpretation by sally

‘Across the world, human rights-based arguments are increasingly deployed in climate litigation against public bodies. However, in the UK, potential reforms to the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) – an Act which allows claimants in domestic courts to rely on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – could seriously impact the ability of these cases to succeed in the future.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 22nd May 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

No cab-rank rule breach – yet – for barrister signatories of eco-resolution – Legal Futures

Posted May 18th, 2023 in barristers, climate change, demonstrations, environmental protection, news, professional conduct, prosecutions, public interest by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) will not take action against barristers who have committed not to prosecute climate protestors or work for fossil fuel companies – at least until they actually refuse instructions.’

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Legal Futures, 18th May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Air pollution transparency rules among EU laws to be scrapped by UK – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2023 in bills, brexit, EC law, environmental health, environmental protection, government departments, news, pollution by sally

‘Laws to ensure the government is transparent about how they plan to reduce harmful air pollution are among those to be scrapped in the EU retained law bill.’

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The Guardian, 16th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Real estate company fined for burning peatland in protected area – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2023 in environmental health, environmental protection, fines, fire, news by tracey

‘A real estate company worth nearly £20 million has admitted burning peat illegally on one of its estates.’

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The Independent, 11th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New police powers to tackle slow-walking protests – BBC News

Posted April 28th, 2023 in bills, climate change, demonstrations, environmental protection, freedom of expression, news, nuisance, police, roads by tracey

‘Police in England and Wales are to be given new powers to tackle “disruptive” slow walking used by protesters to block roads.’

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BBC News, 28th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

River Lugg damage caused by convicted farmer to cost £700k to fix – BBC News

Posted April 24th, 2023 in criminal damage, environmental protection, news, pollution, trees, water by tracey

‘Fixing damage caused by a farmer who illegally ripped up trees from the banks of a river may cost about £700,000, the Environment Agency says.’

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BBC News, 23rd April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Farmer jailed for ‘ecological vandalism’ of River Lugg in Herefordshire – BBC News

Posted April 21st, 2023 in environmental protection, imprisonment, news, pollution, sentencing, water by tracey

‘A farmer who hired diggers and bulldozers to illegally rip up trees along the banks of a river has been jailed for 12 months.’

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BBC News, 20th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One jailed and three others fined over Insulate Britain roadblock protest – The Guardian

Posted April 21st, 2023 in climate change, community service, demonstrations, environmental protection, fines, imprisonment, news, nuisance, roads, sentencing by tracey

‘One protester has been jailed for five weeks and three others given fines and community service for their part in a protest to demand government action on insulation.’

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The Guardian, 20th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Society: Climate change a “valid” reason to reject clients – Legal Futures

Posted April 19th, 2023 in climate change, codes of practice, environmental protection, law firms, Law Society, legal representation, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘Climate-related issues may be “valid considerations” for law firms in deciding whether to act for potential clients, the Law Society has said.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The use of the new statutory public nuisance offence to prosecute political and environmental protest – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted April 14th, 2023 in chambers articles, climate change, demonstrations, environmental protection, news, nuisance by sally

‘On 28 June 2022, section 78 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (‘the PCSCA’) came into force. Following a recommendation by the Law Commission, the new statutory offence of intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance codified and abolished the old offence of common law public nuisance.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 15th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

OUTLOOK: Building for the Future – Climate Change and Arbitration – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted April 12th, 2023 in arbitration, chambers articles, climate change, environmental protection, news by sally

‘The data from the major arbitral institutions indicates that the users of arbitration are overwhelmingly represented in heavily emitting industries – energy, construction and the financial sectors. Corporates in these industries will be the first to feel changes in regulation as targets become more ambitious – this is where the role of the state becomes significant in investor state arbitrations.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 28th March 2023

Source: www.39essex.com

Etihad adverts banned over ‘misleading’ environmental claims – The Independent

Posted April 12th, 2023 in advertising, airlines, climate change, environmental protection, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Adverts for Etihad have been banned for making exaggerated claims about the airline’s efforts to achieve “sustainable aviation”.’

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The Independent, 12th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Seven Just Stop Oil activists convicted over London road blockade – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2023 in demonstrations, environmental protection, London, news, prosecutions, roads by michael

‘Seven climate activists who glued themselves to the road outside the Natural History Museum in south-west London have been convicted of obstructing a highway.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Climate activist who allegedly held sign directed at jurors may be charged – The Guardian

Posted April 5th, 2023 in climate change, contempt of court, criminal justice, demonstrations, environmental protection, juries, news by sally

‘A climate activist who allegedly held a sign outside court telling jurors they were entitled to find protesters not guilty based on their conscience may still face a criminal charge.’

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The Guardian, 4th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Don’t crow over court victories, bar leader warns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 24th, 2023 in barristers, bias, climate change, codes of practice, environmental protection, news, professional conduct by tracey

‘Barristers should not crow online about court victories, the profession’s leader has warned amid renewed controversy over lawyers being identified with their clients.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Watchdog to block shareholder payouts if UK water companies miss targets – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2023 in company law, dividends, environmental health, environmental protection, news, ombudsmen, shareholders, water by tracey

‘The UK water regulator is to use new powers to block companies from shareholder payouts if they fail to hit performance and environmental targets.’

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The Guardian, 20th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Plymouth trees: Call for independent inquiry into felling – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2023 in environmental protection, injunctions, inquiries, judicial review, local government, news, planning, trees by tracey

‘Plymouth City Council is facing calls for an independent inquiry into the decisions behind the night-time felling of 110 trees in the city centre.’

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BBC News, 16th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Eco-anxiety “a wellbeing issue” for barristers – Legal Futures

Posted March 14th, 2023 in barristers, climate change, environmental protection, mental health, news by sally

‘Eco-anxiety, a form of anxiety linked to the climate crisis, is a wellbeing issue for barristers which “should be taken seriously” by chambers, a KC and environmental law specialist has said.’

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Legal Futures, 14th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court restrictions on climate protesters ‘deeply concerning’, say leading lawyers – The Guardian

Posted March 8th, 2023 in climate change, contempt of court, demonstrations, environmental protection, freedom of expression, imprisonment, juries, news, nuisance, sentencing by sally

‘Restrictions placed on non-violent climate protesters who have been tried in criminal courts were part of a “deeply concerning” “pincer movement” narrowing their rights to free expression, leading lawyers have told the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 8th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jurors trying Insulate Britain protesters fail to reach verdict – The Guardian

Posted March 3rd, 2023 in climate change, demonstrations, environmental protection, juries, news, nuisance, retrials by sally

‘Three climate protesters who stopped traffic to bring rush hour chaos to the City of London face a possible retrial.’

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The Guardian, 2nd March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com