This week the UK Supreme Court ruled 3-2 in favor of Sarah Finch and Weald Action Group, agreeing that the environmental impact assessment for a Surrey oil and gas field should have included emissions from burning the field's oil and gas (scope 3 emissions).
This decision is a testament to the tenacity, courage, and skill of Sarah Finch, Weald Action Group, Friends of the Earth, and their legal team: Leigh Day, Estelle Dehon KC, Ruchi Parekh, and Marc Willers KC. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
The ruling highlights that decision-makers must consider emissions from burning oil and gas when assessing the environmental impact of such projects. This aligns with the broader consensus that burning fossil fuels drives climate change, as confirmed by the International Energy Agency and the IPCC.
The decision is consistent with recent rulings in Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, and the US. It has significant implications for proposed UK fossil fuel projects like the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil fields, which are under legal challenge for not accounting for scope 3 emissions. These cases, along with the Whitehaven coal mine challenge, will now be the first to test the Supreme Court's reasoning.
This groundbreaking ruling marks the end of approving fossil fuel projects without considering their climate impacts!
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20 w
this is I great win, henceforth fossil fuels project will remain accountable for their emissions
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29 w
This ruling is a major environmental win, ensuring that all future UK fossil fuel projects account for their full climate impact. It's a significant step towards more responsible environmental decision-making and combating climate change effectively. Way to go!!
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29 w
Great! More of this towards testing the supreme court's in issues to do with effects of climate change is very important.
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29 w
@patrick_kiash It is indeed a monumental step to have supreme courts back the will of the people as they should and to create precedents for future cases.
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29 w
Developers will now have to think twice about the environmental impact of their projects, which is exactly what we need.
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29 w
@ann_nyambura_542 Yes, you have to present a plan beforehand on how you'll work around restoring what you may destroy during your project or pay heavily.
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29 w
Happy to see jurisprudence in action
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29 w
This is a great decision by the UK courts. Happy to see environment defenders stand tall to fight for climate justice.
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29 w
Dear Ingmar Rentzhog Your climate love has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to Sarah Finch by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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29 w
This is a notable win for environmental responsibility. 👏
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This calls for governments to assess the effects a project has on the environment before allowing them to be implemented.
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29 w
emissions from burning oil and gas should be considered when assessing the environmental impact of projects so as to reduce pollution.