Plan B Earth and Others v. Prime Minister

On May 1, 2021, Plan B Earth (an environmental charity) and Adetola Stephanie Kezia Onamade, Jerry Noel Amokawandoh, Marina Xochitl Tricks (three young British citizens), and Timothy John Edward Crosland (together “the Claimants”) filed a petition for judicial review alleging that the UK government violated human rights by failing to implement effective measures to uphold its Paris Agreement commitments. The claimants argue that the Government has failed to produce a coherent plan for addressing the climate emergency. Plaintiffs allege that while the UK government has pledged itself to net zero emissions by 2050, it has undercut this commitment by supporting coal and aviation, granting oil and gas leases, investing more than 25 billion pounds in roads, and financing fossil fuel projects overseas. According to the petition, these policies expose claimants to gross violations of their rights to life, private and family life, and protection from discrimination guaranteed by Articles 2, 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as implemented into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998. Claimants seek a court order that the UK government must urgently implement a legislative and administrative framework sufficient to uphold its Paris Agreement commitments. The case was refused permission to proceed on the papers, and went to a renewal hearing (for permission) on November 25, 2021 in the High Court. The court handed down its judgment on 21 December 2021, and permission was refused again.