Public interest law UK news
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| Location | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 54° 42' 8.48" N, 3° 16' 35.67" W |
Stay informed on the latest news and updates in public interest law in the UK. Learn about key legal issues, cases, and efforts to advance social justice.
2025
Jailed climate activist wins appeal against deportation from UK, theguardian.com (Nov 10, 2025) — Marcus Decker was served with deportation order while in prison for unveiling Just Stop Oil banner over Dartford Crossing. Decker’s appeal against deportation was supported by climate experts, religious leaders, celebrities, members of the public, The UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, Michel Forst, 22 Nobel prize laureates and 562 actors, musicians and other artists
- Just Stop Oil trio cleared over Stonehenge protest, BBC News (Oct 31, 2025)
- The pollution court case that could reach far beyond the banks of the River Wye, theconversation.com (Oct 22, 2025)
- Legal challenge begins against Gatwick expansion, BBC News (Oct 15, 2025)
- ‘It’s a road to destruction’: climate defenders facing surge in reprisals, says UN expert, theguardian.com (Oct 13, 2025) — Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders, accuses US, UK and other governments of paying lip service to climate goals while criminalizing activists
- Thousands join biggest-ever UK environmental lawsuit over river pollution, BBC News (Oct 07, 2025)
- Campaigners take airport expansion to High Court, BBC News (Aug 04, 2025) — Campaign group argues the government acted unlawfully when it granted the scheme permission - as the impact on climate change had not been properly assessed. The government backed the project despite the Planning Inspectorate recommending it should be rejected over environmental concerns
- Council recognises right of River Test to flow unimpeded and unpolluted, theguardian.com (Jul 30, 2025) — Test is one of only about 200 chalk streams in the world and councillors says biodiversity in and around it has declined
- ‘Compassion and care are being stripped away’: a Just Stop Oil activist on her time in prison, Louise Lancaster, theguardian.com (Jul 21, 2025)
- Council champions 'pioneering' Rights of River Charter to protect 'landmark waterway', lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk (Jul 09, 2025) — Charter will 'enshrine importance of River Ouse for generations to come'
- A friend of the Earth: how I stopped Surrey becoming the new Texas, observer.co.uk (Jun 20, 2025)
- Two Britons to challenge UK’s ‘weak’ response to climate crisis in Strasbourg court, theguardian.com (May 05, 2025)
- Lessons from Wales’ future generations law, theprogressplaybook.co (May 04, 2025)
- Just Stop Oil protester, 78, who was returned to jail as no tag fitted her, on her life inside, theguardian.com (Mar 23, 2025)
- ‘The prison system is insanely broken’: a climate activist on his experience in jail, theguardian.com (Mar 19, 2025)
- Let juries judge disruptive protesters like Just Stop Oil on their integrity – expert view, theconversation.com (Mar 15, 2025)
- Six climate change activists sentences reduced by appeal court, BBC News (Mar 07, 2025)
- Hundreds protest in London as jailed climate activists’ appeals are heard, theguardian.com (Jan 30, 2025)
- Rosebank oilfield go-ahead decision ruled unlawful by Edinburgh court, theguardian.com (Jan 30, 2025)
- Sixteen jailed UK climate activists to appeal against ‘unduly harsh’ sentences, theguardian.com (Jan 29, 2025)
- Five years in prison for nonviolent protest: it’s plain wrong, and Keir Starmer knows it, Caroline Lucas, theguardian.com (Jan 29, 2025)
- The UK’s international commitments on climate and nature could soon become law – and better protect our environment, theconversation.com (Jan 22, 2025) — Climate and Nature Bill (CAN Bill), includes a climate and nature citizens’ assembly
- A decade on, six things the world can learn from Wales’ innovative future generations law, theconversation.com (Jan 06, 2025) — Includes "Engage all stakeholders early and effectively"
2024
- Charity preparing to take legal action against a government decision to permit a housing development in part of the Kent countryside, BBC News (Dec 20, 2024)
- Britain leads the world in cracking down on climate activism, study finds, theguardian.com (Dec 11, 2024)
- Ecocide Bill lodged in Scottish Parliament, stopecocide.earth (Nov 12, 2024)
- Stop punishing doctors who take part in climate protests, regulator told, theguardian.com (Oct 27, 2024) — Hundreds of health workers sign letter to General Medical Council calling for halt to suspensions as GP faces jail for activism
- Legal challenge to Rosebank oil field given go-ahead, BBC News (Sep 25, 2024)
- Whitehaven coal mine plan quashed by High Court, BBC News (Sep 13, 2024)
- Jail term for climate protester, 77, is disproportionate, says Carla Denyer, theguardian.com (Aug 22, 2024)
- UK government faces claim over alleged failure to protect people in climate crisis, theguardian.com (Jul 23, 2024)
- Celebrities add voices to outcry over severity of Just Stop Oil sentences, theguardian.com (Jul 19, 2024)
- You may find Just Stop Oil annoying. You may dislike their tactics. But they do not belong in prison, Chris Packham and Dale Vince, theguardian.com (Jul 19, 2024) — These protesters are shouting ‘fire’ while the world burns. A society that locks them up cannot be called democratic
- A record sentence for a Zoom call, arrests for those holding signs outside. This is a blight on British democracy, George Monbiot, theguardian.com (Jul 19, 2024)
- Contempt, gagging and UN intervention: inside the UK’s wildest climate trial, theguardian.com (Jul 12, 2024)
- Wolds oil drilling plans quashed in landmark ruling, BBC News (Jul 11, 2024)
- Cumbria coalmine was unlawfully approved, government says, theguardian.com (Jul 11, 2024)
- In Wales, they’re considering a law of “political deception”. Meaning when a politician is deemed to deliberately lie, it’s a criminal offence, Daily Alternative (Jul 02, 2024)
- Climate protest accused defies judge to give hours-long speech in court, theguardian.com (Jul 02, 2024)
- Horse Hill: Historic win as Supreme Court upholds landmark climate case, Sarah Finch, wealdactiongroup.org.uk (Jun 20, 2024) — Surrey County Council acted unlawfully by giving planning permission for oil production at Horse Hill in the Surrey countryside without considering the climate impacts of when the oil is inevitably burned, the Supreme Court has ruled today.
- Coalition of more than 80 nature conservation groups launch legal bid over wildlife loss, BBC News (Jun 07, 2024)
- The Guardian view on peaceful protests: the high court has preserved a fundamental right, Editorial, theguardian.com (May 21, 2024)
- Government defeated in High Court over climate plans, BBC News (May 03, 2024)
- Holding a placard outside court isn’t illegal, judge rules – is that the best British democracy has to offer?, theconversation.com (May 02, 2024)
- Judge throws out case against UK climate activist who held sign on jurors’ rights, theguardian.com (Apr 22, 2024)
- Ruling against Just Stop Oil doctor alarms British Medical Association, BBC News (Apr 22, 2024)
- Climate protesters in England and Wales lose criminal damage defence, theguardian.com (Mar 18, 2024)
- European nations must end repression of peaceful climate protest, says UN expert, theguardian.com (Feb 28, 2024)
- ‘Assault on rights of juries’: activist decries Tory challenge to legal defence for protesters, theguardian.com (Feb 19, 2024)
- Norway has made a vital climate leap. This is how Britain can do the same, Tessa Khan, theguardian.com (Jan 31, 2024)
- Geldof and Colman urge Home Office to reconsider climate activist’s deportation, theguardian.com (Jan 26, 2024)
- Dissent is vital to protect democracy, Guardian Editorial, theguardian.com (Jan 23, 2024)
- UN expert condemns UK crackdown on environmental protest, theguardian.com (Jan 23, 2024)
2023
- Climate groups begin legal actions against Rosebank North Sea oil project, theguardian.com (Dec 18, 2023)
- Chris Packham launches legal challenge over UK’s watering down of climate policies, theguardian.com (Dec 04, 2023)
- Actors and academics criticise UK over climate ‘madness’ and limits on protest, theguardian.com (Nov 24, 2023)
- Claimants take UK government to court over inadequate climate adaptation, theguardian.com (Nov 01, 2023)
- We have a date in court with the Government to demand honesty about net zero, goodlawproject.org (Oct 06, 2023)
- Fossil fuel companies have a secret weapon. Here’s how Britain can help take it away from them, Cleodie Rickard, theguardian.com (Sep 13, 2023)
- Water bills: Fight for money back over sewage leaks begins, BBC News (Aug 09, 2023)
- Why the UK needs a new law to put the planet over profit, friendsoftheearth.uk (Jul 19, 2023)
- High costs deterring legal challenges in England and Wales to protect environment, NGOs say, The Guardian (Jun 28, 2023)
- Horse Hill oil - a legal challenge with real climate impact, friendsoftheearth.uk (Jun 28, 2023)
- Ministers face legal challenge over cuts to walking and cycling investment in England, The Guardian (Jun 05, 2023)
- Top lawyers defy bar to declare they will not prosecute peaceful climate protesters, The Guardian (Mar 24, 2023)
- Court restrictions on climate protesters ‘deeply concerning’, say leading lawyers, The Guardian (Mar 08, 2023)
- Cabinet ministers warned of legal action over UK’s failure to tackle climate crisis, The Guardian (Mar 04, 2023)
- Today’s climate activist ‘criminals’ are tomorrow’s heroes: silencing them in court is immoral, George Monbiot, The Guardian (Feb 22, 2023)
News archive
| Authors | Phil Green |
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| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Phil Green (2023–2025). "Public interest law UK news". Appropedia. Retrieved November 28, 2025. |