"Planning authorities must play their part in confronting the climate crisis"

An update from Drill or Drop blog on an important legal challenge on climate impacts of onshore oil production centred around Horse Hill:

Appeal court judges were split over the claim by Sarah Finch that carbon emissions from burning oil in cars and planes should be taken into account when deciding whether to allow hydrocarbon extraction.

One of the three judges, Lord Justice Moylan, allowed the appeal but rulings by Lord Lewison and Sir Keith Lindblom dismissed the case.

Ms Finch is considering an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Her long-running legal battle centred on the Horse Hill oil site in Surrey. But if she had won, the result could have had big implications for many carbon intensive industries.

Sarah Finch, who led the legal challenge, said:

Every tonne of carbon dioxide emitted will make the future situation worse – and more than 10 million tonnes could be produced as a result of this development.

Friends of the Earth lawyer Katie de Kauwe commented:

We wholeheartedly agree with the conclusion of Lord Justice Moylan, who gave the dissenting judgment in this appeal, that Surrey County Council could and should have considered the inevitable end-use emissions arising from this fossil fuel development.

Planning authorities must play their part in confronting the climate crisis, or the planet will continue to hurtle towards catastrophe.

Friends of the Earth is proud to have supported Sarah Finch in this crucial legal battle and will continue to do so if she appeals and this case goes to the Supreme Court.

Read more at Drill or Drop and the Weald Action Group.