London High Court has ruled that Britain’s latest climate action plan is unlawful because ministers were not adequately informed of the risks associated with key policies that may not be deliverable.
This decision, delivered on Friday, presents another challenge for Britain as it works towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The court’s judgment highlights that the carbon budgets set by the government in 2023, aimed at meeting the UK’s net zero target, were established without sufficient evidence demonstrating their feasibility.
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Consequently, Britain must develop and submit a revised plan addressing these shortcomings. This ruling underscores the complexities and rigorous standards involved in formulating effective climate policies amid the transition towards a low-carbon future.
In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero told Reuters, “The UK can be hugely proud of its record on climate change.”
“The claims in this case were largely about process and the judgment contains no criticism of the detailed plans we have in place.”
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“We do not believe a court case about process represents the best way of driving progress towards our shared goal of reaching net zero,” the spokesperson added.