Friends of the Earth challenge Britain's climate change plan in landmark court case

Friends of the Earth is taking legal action, alongside co-Claimants Kevin Jordan and Doug Paulley, over Britain's third national adaptation programme, published under Part 4 of the Climate Change Act. The group argues that the programme, published last year, needs (and lacks) specific objectives to address particular risks like high temperatures, coastal flooding, and extreme weather, rather than broad aspirations to reduce risks. This case draws on Verein Klima Seniorinnen, a recent European Court of Human Rights ruling that Switzerland violated citizens' human rights by failing to have in place a practical and effective framework to respond to climate change.

Margherita Cornaglia is representing the Claimants in court this week. She is led, alongside Nik Grubeck of Monckton Chambers, by David Wolfe KC of Matrix Chambers and is instructed by Rowan Smith and Julia Eriksen of Leigh Day.

Media coverage includes: Daily Mail, BBC here and here, The Guardian, Independent, Reuters, The Times (time stamp: 24:47), ITV and Shropshire Star.

For more information about Margherita Cornaglia, please contact our International Team Practice Manager Naomi Smith.