A key plank of the UK government’s defence against the biggest climate legal action in the world next week has fallen away as a result of the U-turn by the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, on green policies.human rights on Wednesday by a group of Portuguese young people
In documents submitted to the court, Kate Hughes, the director of international climate change at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, raises in evidence the government’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, as proof of the tough policies being taken by the UK. The plan, she said, “has set out some of the concrete steps we will take to reach net zero emissions by 2050”.
The case will be heard on Wednesday at a full-day hearing in front of 17 judges when the removal of what is a key defence in the UK government’s case could become significant. The UK defence case against the claim argues the government is doing enough to meet its obligations. “The UK has taken wide-ranging measures to address climate change and, on any view is not in breach of its alleged obligations,” the defence documents state.