Government in High Court over ‘inadequate’ Carbon Budget Delivery Plan

The UK government is facing a challenge in the High Court today over its revised Carbon Budget Delivery Plan after Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth and Good Law Project called for legal action.

The campaigners argue that the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, which was revised in March 2023 after a High Court ruling in 2022, is unlawful as it still falls short of the requirements in the Climate Change Act 2008.

The Climate Change Committee, the government’s independent adviser on climate, found in June last year that there are now credible plans for less than a fifth of the emissions cuts needed to meet the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget, which starts in 2033.

Friends of the Earth argues that the plan jeopardises the UK’s ability to meet its international commitment to cut emissions by two-thirds by 2030, and will therefore negatively impact future generations, and undermine sustainable development.


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Additionally, since the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan was published, the government U-turned on climate policies and vowed to ‘max out’ North Sea Gas and oil.

Friends of the Earth lawyer Katie de Kauwe said the revised Carbon Budget Delivery Plan is a “complete pipe dream”.

“It lacks critical information on the very real risks that its policies will fail to deliver the cuts needed to meet legally binding carbon reduction targets and relies too heavily on unproven technologies,” de Kauwe added.

“The government ought to just come clean that this is a reckless, high-risk plan, and should come up with a credible and lawful strategy that ensures all our climate targets are met – including our international pledge to cut emissions two thirds by 2030.

“Climate action is not only good for the planet, it’s essential for creating new jobs and business opportunities, boosting energy security and reducing our reliance on costly fossil fuels.”

Climate crisisNet zeroNewsPolicy

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