Climate

A first-of-its-kind judicial review being heard in Northern Ireland's High Court today aims to force the Department of Infrastructure to resume carrying out exhaust emissions tests on diesel cars for the first time in nearly two decades. Hundreds of thousands of diesel cars have never received a leg

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has published a new podcast featuring Ian Fry, the UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change. The episode, exploring the topic of climate change and human rights, is the second in the ri

The Irish government has been urged to heed a new UN report identifying the climate crisis as "an urgent and systemic threat to children's rights globally". The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child yesterday launched its general comment on children's rights and the environment, which considers th

An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Shannon estuary. The proposed €650 million project "would be contrary to current government policy, and in the absence of such policy support... would be contrary to the proper pla

California has filed a lawsuit against major oil and gas companies, alleging that they misled the public regarding the dangers associated with fossil fuels in one of a deluge of climate cases being brought around the world. The legal action also calls for the establishment of a fund, underwritten by

The Irish and UK governments have signed two memorandums of understanding aimed at increasing co-operation for developing offshore renewable energy, exploring further electricity interconnection opportunities and enhancing security of gas supplies. The first memorandum on Cooperation in the Energy T

A judicial review claiming that Ireland is set to fall short of its legally-binding climate targets has been launched by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) with support from Community Law & Mediation's Centre for Environmental Justice. The environmental group claims that the government has f

Rugby World Cup organisers have threatened legal action against Greenpeace over a new video narrated by Irish comedian Seán Burke which takes aim at fossil fuel sponsorship of major sporting events. The campaign group today released the short video, which highlights the sponsorship of the 202

The Government's slow pace in applying climate policy has been criticised by an independent watchdog in light of the 'existential threat' posed by climate change, The Irish Times reports. The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) warned that unless urgent action is taken and emissions drastically r

An initiative designed to help law firms respond meaningfully to the climate crisis has launched in the UK ahead of London Climate Action Week. Legal Charter 1.5, which has been developed by a group of law firms, consists of a set of core principles that signatories commit to in order to reduce gree

The Northern Ireland office of corporate law firm A&L Goodbody (ALG) has teamed up with RenewableNI to mark Earth Day 2023. Taking place annually on 22 April, Earth Day is widely recognised as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year, as a day

The Law Society of England and Wales has assured law firms that they can refuse to advise clients whose activities conflict with scientifically-supported climate change targets. In "milestone" guidance published yesterday, the Law Society encourages solicitors to "adopt a proportionate approach to c

Northern Ireland's Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a consultation on developing future regulations that will place climate change reporting duties on specified public bodies. These regulations are required to be made under the Climate Change Act (Northe

More than 120 lawyers, including Northern Ireland human rights lawyer Declan Owens, have signed a "declaration of conscience" pledging opposition to fossil fuel projects and support for climate protesters. The declaration, co-ordinated by Lawyers Are Responsible (LAR), calls on "our government and o

A bursary established in memory of the late Arthur Cox partner Niamh Burke will be awarded this year to Sean Murphy from Cavan and Karin Mackey from Mullinahone, Co Tipperary. The Niamh Burke Memorial Bursary fosters and supports study and research in the field of renewable energy. It annually award