Climate protest defense strategy hits a legal wall in England and Wales

Climate activists in England and Wales face a significant setback as a key legal defense is stripped away.

Sandra Laville reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• The Court of Appeal has ruled against the use of the "consent" defense by climate activists, a strategy that has led to several acquittals since 1971.
• This decision follows governmental concerns over the effectiveness of legal guidance for future environmental protests.
• The ruling is seen as a victory for political influence over legal proceedings, further limiting protestor rights and defenses.

Why this matters:

Climate activists are increasingly finding themselves embroiled in legal battles as they push for more aggressive action on climate change. These challenges manifest in various forms, from lawsuits aimed at compelling governments to adopt stricter emissions targets to legal actions against major fossil fuel companies for their role in climate change.

In 2021, Douglas Fischer wrote about four community activists lauded in the fight for environmental and racial justice.