In a resounding rebuke of the UK government’s climate policies, the High Court of Justice has delivered a second damning verdict, declaring the country’s net-zero strategy “unlawful” for failing to meet legal requirements under the 2008 Climate Change Act. This latest ruling intensifies pressure on policymakers to urgently overhaul climate plans and implement robust, effective measures to combat the climate crisis.

The recent ruling, issued by Mr. Justice Clive Sheldon, stems from a legal challenge brought forth by prominent environmental groups including Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth, and the Good Law Project. These groups argued that the government’s revised net-zero strategy lacked the necessary clear guidelines and policies to deliver on its emission reduction promises, thus breaching the legal obligations outlined in the Climate Change Act.

This verdict marks a significant setback for the government, following a similar ruling in July 2022 that prompted a mandated revision of the net-zero emissions strategy by March 2023. However, subsequent revisions failed to satisfy environmental advocates or the court, leading to this latest ruling highlighting systemic deficiencies in the government’s approach to climate governance.

Mr. Justice Clive Sheldon’s ruling highlighted glaring flaws in the government’s decision-making process concerning the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan (CBDP) approved in March 2023. He emphasized that the plan’s approval was based on a “mistaken understanding of the true factual position” and was “simply not justified by the evidence.” This scathing critique underscores fundamental shortcomings in the government’s climate policy implementation.

The High Court’s decision sends a clear message to policymakers: substantive, credible climate action is non-negotiable. The ruling underscores the urgent need for transparent, accountable governance and the development of robust policies aligned with legally binding carbon budgets and emission reduction targets. Failure to meet these standards jeopardizes the UK’s ability to make meaningful progress in combating climate change.

Environmental advocates have welcomed the court’s decision while expressing deep disappointment in the government’s continued failure to deliver adequate climate plans. Katie de Kauwe, a lawyer from Friends of the Earth, described the ruling as “another embarrassing defeat” for the government’s climate policies. She stressed the imperative of implementing tangible, actionable measures to fulfill national and international climate commitments.

Similarly, Sam Hunter Jones, a senior lawyer at ClientEarth, emphasized the urgent need for credible climate action. He insisted that the government must develop a plan rooted in reliable data and strategies that can be trusted to deliver on climate goals.

Beyond mitigation efforts, the ruling underscores critical challenges in climate adaptation. The inadequacies of the UK’s climate adaptation plan have come under scrutiny, particularly in addressing climate risks and safeguarding communities and ecosystems. The urgency of enhancing climate resilience cannot be overstated, especially in light of record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events.

The ruling coincides with alarming trends in temperature records. According to the Met Office, 2023 was the world’s warmest year and the UK’s second-warmest year on record, with a mean temperature of 9.97°C. Furthermore, February 2024 saw record-breaking temperatures, marking the warmest February on record for England and Wales. These trends underscore the pressing need for decisive, comprehensive climate action.

In response to the court’s ruling, the government has been given a 12-month deadline to revise its net-zero strategy and ensure compliance with legally binding carbon budgets and emission reduction targets. The government’s ability to deliver on these requirements will be closely scrutinized by environmental advocates and stakeholders.

Moving forward, policymakers face a critical imperative to rebuild public trust and demonstrate unequivocal climate leadership. The urgency of the climate crisis demands bold, transformative action to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and fortify climate resilience across all sectors.