TV Presenter Resolves Legal Dispute With Government Regarding Net Zero Delay
Naturalist Chris Packham filed a lawsuit against the previous Conservative government, alleging that it had unlawfully delayed carbon neutral policies.
TV presenter Chris Packham has come to a resolution with the government regarding his legal challenge against the decision to postpone certain net zero policies, according to his law firm.
In late 2023, Packham sought a judicial review against the previous Conservative government, contending that it violated the 2008 Climate Act by halting several policies outlined in the UK’s Carbon Budget Delivery Plan (CBDP).
Leigh Day, the law firm representing Packham, announced on Tuesday that he had reached a “legal settlement” with the new Labour government, acknowledging that the previous administration had acted unlawfully in scrapping or weakening the contentious policies, which critics argue will have significant repercussions on ordinary citizens, businesses, and the economy.
The specifics of the settlement were not disclosed by Leigh Day or Packham, but it is implied that the new government will move forward with the policies that were halted by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Government’s Reevaluation
The law firm also stated that the government will reassess its determinations, and a hearing that was scheduled for November at the High Court has now been canceled.
In a statement, Packham stated: “The previous government’s actions blatantly disregarded crucial aspects of the UK’s efforts to achieve net zero.”
He further added, “Critical policies with measurable carbon reduction benefits were scrapped without considering the impact on those plans or the government’s legal obligations under the Climate Change Act. It was shortsighted and irresponsible.”
Regarding the settlement, Packham remarked that only because of his legal challenge was the lack of transparency surrounding the alteration of carbon reduction policies exposed.
‘Urgent Crisis’
The statement emphasized the current “time of urgent crisis” and criticized the lack of information provided to the public and scientists concerning pivotal decisions made by a department that allegedly disregarded essential consultation summaries.
Expressing approval for the settlement with the new government, Packham mentioned his anticipation for an upcoming meeting with Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero Ed Miliband to discuss future steps in addressing what he referred to as “climate breakdown.”
Stressing the importance of safeguarding the planet’s future, Packham stated, “We are in peril, our planet’s future health is in the balance, (and) we cannot allow governments to play fast and loose with our future.”
In addition to his work on environmental programs, Packham is recognized for documentaries focusing on his experience being on the autistic spectrum, having been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Individuals with Asperger’s tend to interpret information literally and may struggle with abstract concepts.
‘Unacceptable Costs’
The CBDP is designed to demonstrate how the country will meet the targets outlined in the sixth carbon budget, which extends until 2037, as part of broader efforts to achieve net zero by 2050.
In 2023, Sunak announced the abandonment or postponement of several schemes within the CBDP, such as delaying the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035, scaling back the phase-out of gas boilers from 100 percent to 80 percent by 2035, and removing the requirement for “energy efficiency upgrades” for homes.
He justified these decisions by arguing that the UK’s approach to net zero was placing “unacceptable costs on hard-pressed British families.”
However, in May, a High Court judge ruled that the government acted unlawfully by endorsing the CBDP in March 2023, deeming the decision unjustified based on the evidence.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced that, while the CBDP remains government policy, a new report will be issued by May of the following year in response to the ruling.
Leigh Day revealed that the new government acknowledged abandoning the policies as a failure to fulfill its climate-related obligations and has committed to reassessing the climate policies as part of revising the CBDP.
Describing the agreement as a positive development, Leigh Day solicitor Carol Day remarked, “The policies discarded by the previous government were identified by the Climate Change Committee as vital to achieving our net zero goals.”
She continued, “Our client appreciates the current administration’s acknowledgment that the removal of those policies was unlawful.”
A spokesperson from DESNZ stated, “We have settled both lawsuits brought by Chris Packham against the government in November 2023 and May 2024 after carefully considering the claims.”
They further added, “As part of our efforts to update our carbon budget delivery plan, we will reconsider the challenged decisions.”
This report includes contributions from PA Media
