The UK's latest attempt at a climate action plan has been deemed unlawful by the High Court in London. This ruling, issued on May 3rd, 2024, highlights deficiencies in the government's approach to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The court's central argument is that the government failed to adequately assess the risks associated with implementing key policies within the plan. Essentially, the carbon budgets outlined did not account for the possibility that some critical initiatives might not be successfully delivered.
This decision represents a setback for the UK's environmental goals and marks the second time the High Court has ruled against the government's climate action plans. In 2022, a similar challenge was brought by a coalition of environmental groups – Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth, and the Good Law Project – which successfully argued that the previous plan didn't align with the UK's obligations under the Paris Agreement.
The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. The UK's current failure to demonstrate a viable pathway towards achieving this target necessitates a revised plan.
The pressure is now on the government to develop a more robust climate action plan with a clear roadmap for achieving its ambitious net-zero target. This new plan will need to address the concerns raised by the court, specifically by outlining concrete and achievable policies with a lower risk of failure.
Source: Manchester.gov.uk