The ongoing use of lawfare by activists around the world when they fail via politics and legislation now takes center stage in the UK.
The future of UK fossil fuels finds itself in the spotlight this week, with the case of Horse Hill oil extraction set to land in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. As reported by the BBC, this is:
“a challenge that could spell the end of new fossil fuel projects in the UK.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65965119This case is being brought by a Surrey woman, Sarah Finch, who is challenging the legality of a local oil drilling permit.
The basis of the contention lies in the consideration of ‘downstream emissions’ during the approval of planning permissions. As the BBC calls them:
“the greenhouse gas emissions released when the oil is used.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65965119Finch is arguing that Surrey County Council did not factor in the impact of such emissions, which she estimates could amount to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 20 years.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2023/06/21/anti-fossil-fuel-lawfare-across-the-pond/