The UK government‘s climate plan was unlawful, according to a ruling from a High Court judge. 

In a blow to the UK government’s climate strategy, a High Court judge ruled that its plan to meet climate targets was unlawful due to insufficient evidence of its deliverability.

The ruling from Justice Clive Sheldon marks the second time in two years that the government’s primary climate action plan has had to submit a new climate plan. 

The case was brought forward by three environmental groups, who suggested that the government’s Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, approved last year, lacked the necessary evidence to justify its feasibility. 

The ruling underscores the urgency of transparent climate policies, highlighting the need for concrete action to address the pressing challenges of climate change. 

The plan aimed to achieve ambitious targets, including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds of 1990 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

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Justice Sheldon agreed with the environmental groups, stating that the plan’s details were “vague and unquantified,” providing inadequate information for proper scrutiny. The absence of “risk tables” further hindered transparency, preventing Parliament and others from evaluating the plan effectively.

Lawyers representing the environmental organisations emphasised the need for credible action to address the climate crisis, stressing the importance of a trustworthy plan with reliable figures.

The government, while defending its climate record, asserted that it had provided more detailed plans than any other G20 country. It emphasised that the judgement focused on procedural aspects rather than the substance of its climate strategy.

However, officials pledged to publish a new report within 12 months in response to the judge’s ruling.