judgment

R. v Hallam and others (‘Heathrow Pause’ drone protest) - judgment

Litigation

Sabin

Sabin Litigation

Filing Year For Action

Roger Hallam, the co-founder of climate group Extinction Rebellion, and three other defendants were charged with conspiracy to cause public nuisance. It was said that the defendants conspired with others to fly drones within the airport's restricted fly zone. The intention was said to be to close the airport until the government agreed to withdraw its policy backing for a new third runway. 

On December 15, 2023, after a four-week trial, Hallam and another defendant were found guilty. They were each given a two-year suspended prison sentences. A third defendant had previously pleaded guilty, while a fourth defendant was found not guilty.

Hallam and the other defendant who was found guilty, Dr Larch Maxey, appealed the decision, arguing that they had not intended to cause public nuisance by forcing Heathrow Airport to close; rather the protest aimed to attract attention to the proposed expansion of the airport, which they oppose. On April 14, 2025, the Court of Appeals (Criminal Division) dismissed the appeal, finding there were no bases for overturning the conviction. 

R. v Hallam and others (‘Heathrow Pause’ drone protest)

The Climate Litigation Database

Find climate change litigation data and indicators for {text}.

{text} litigation

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law provides Climate Litigation Database, a comprehensive database of US and Global climate change caselaw

Quickly and easily search through the complete text of thousands of climate change law and policy documents from every country.

Search the Climate Litigation Database

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.

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

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.