R (Friends of the Earth) v Secretary of State for BEIS (Net Zero Strategy)
[2022] EWHC 1841 (Admin)
Independent editorial summary — not the official judgment. Read the full judgment via the source link.
Ratio Decidendi
The Secretary of State's Net Zero Strategy failed to comply with section 13 of the Climate Change Act 2008 because it did not include quantified assessments showing how policies would enable carbon budgets to be met.
Facts
Environmental groups challenged the Government's Net Zero Strategy, arguing it was insufficiently detailed to demonstrate how the UK would meet its carbon budgets.
Judgment Summary
The High Court held that the strategy was unlawful because it failed to include quantified assessments of the expected effects of each policy, making it impossible to assess whether the carbon budgets would be met.
Key Quotes
"Section 13 provides: - “ Duty to prepare proposals and policies for meeting carbon budgets (1) The Secretary of State must prepare such proposals and policies as the Secretary of State considers will enable the carbon budgets that have been set under this Act to be met."
— Holgate J(verbatim, verified against the judgment)
Subsequent Treatment
Led to a revised Net Zero Strategy being laid before Parliament in 2023.
What To Do Next
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