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Friends of the Earth, The Good Law Project, and Client Earth have succeeded in their critique of the UK government’s Net Zero Strategy which officially breaches its obligations under the Climate Change Act. The court have ruled that there was a sufficient lack of detail outlining how net zero plans would be delivered.  

What went wrong?

The ruling outlines a several reasons as to why the government’s net zero strategy was deemed unlawful. Most notably, Greg Hands, the minister for business, energy and industrial strategy who signed off on the Net Zero plans, couldn’t provide legally required information on how carbon budgets would be delivered. Any new plans that come to light will need to include a quantified account of what the policies are expected to achieve.  
 
Furthermore, there was growing concern that some of the policies were contingent on green technologies that are either in their infancy and yet to have provable benefits, or are simply yet to have been developed at all. 

What must the government do now? 

The UK government has 8 months as of July 2022 to devise a new strategy which includes quantifiable evidence as to how its policies will realistically deliver climate targets. The new strategy will be presented to parliament and assessed by MPs.  
 
The 2008 Climate Change Act legally binds the UK government to carbon budgets set to limit the nation’s emissions. This includes net zero goals and emissions reduction targets of at least 68 per cent by 2030 from 1990 levels.  

What does this mean for UK climate strategy? 

The energy crisis has realigned governments with net zero ambitions as turning away from fossil fuels becomes an increasingly appealing option. The fact that the UK government’s net zero strategy has been criticised and condemned should be viewed as a positive thing. We are moving away from an era of greenwashing and towards scientific, factual, and deliverable climate strategies that governments and corporations can and will be held accountable for.  
 
“This decision is a breakthrough moment in the fight against climate delay and inaction,” said Sam-Hunter Jones, a Client Earth lawyer. “It’s not enough for the UK government to simply have a net zero strategy, it needs to include real-world policies that ensure it succeeds. Anything less I a breach of its legal duties and amounts to greenwashing and climate delay.” 
 
As for the advice that businesses should take away from this landmark ruling: ensure your climate strategies are honest, realistic, and achievable. If you are developing your company’s climate strategy, learn more about the green technology available in today’s market that can help you realise your goals. Get in touch with a member of our team or submit an enquiry through our membership portal.   

Gavel Long

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