The applicants were brothers who owned lands in Northern Ireland. They sought judicial review of a Planning Commissioner’s refusal to permit their request to develop a renewable energy wind-farm on their lands. The permit process was based on a balancing exercise weighing the wider environmental, economic and social benefits of a project against its adverse impact. The court accepted the brothers’ assertion that the Commissioner’s conduct of the test proceeded on a material mistake of fact.  In particular, the Commissioner had failed to properly consider the environmental, economic and social benefits of the wind farm, including the importance of renewable energy generation to the UK meeting its greenhouse gas emissions targets.

In the Matter of An Application by Brian Quinn and Michael Quinn

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In the Matter of An Application by Brian Quinn and Michael Quinn - judgment

Filed

The applicants were brothers who owned lands in Northern Ireland. They sought judicial review of a Planning Commissioner’s refusal to permit their request to develop a renewable energy wind-farm on their lands. The permit process was based on a balancing exercise weighing the wider environmental, economic and social benefits of a project against its adverse impact. The court accepted the brothers’ assertion that the Commissioner’s conduct of the test proceeded on a material mistake of fact.  In particular, the Commissioner had failed to properly consider the environmental, economic and social benefits of the wind farm, including the importance of renewable energy generation to the UK meeting its greenhouse gas emissions targets. 

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Actions to reduce emissions in energy generation and supply.

Investment in electricity transmission and distribution systems capable of integrating renewable energy, supporting electrification and strengthening energy system resilience.

Terrestrial means "of the earth" and relates to the risks to ecological system that includes all living organisms and their interactions within land-based environments, such as forests, grasslands, and deserts.

Social protection systems consist of policies that help people manage social risks in order to prevent poverty and maintain decent incomes and living standards

Electrical energy generated from mechanical devices driven by flowing fresh water.

Kinetic energy of airflow transformed into useful energy, mostly electrical energy.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

This sector involves the wholesale and retail selling of goods.

This sector involves activities to move goods and people, alongside the storage of products.

This sector provides communication services, software development, and IT solutions.

Activities that involve the cultivation of crops and raising of livestock for food, fibre, and other products essential for human life and industry.

Geohazards are adverse geological phenomenon's that are capable of causing widespread damage or loss to property, life and the environment, such as earthquakes, volcano eruptions and tsunamis. Climate change can increase the frequency and severity of some geohazards, such as landslides, and soil erosion.

In the Matter of An Application by Brian Quinn and Michael Quinn - judgment

Target

Risk

Just transition

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance