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ARTICLE · 23 SEPTEMBER 2019

Local Authorities To Face Legal Challenge On Climate Action

Clyde & Co
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Over 100 local authorities who are in the process of developing a new local plan have received a warning from ClientEarth, an environmental campaign group

United KingdomEnvironment
Clare Hatcher
Clare Hatcher
Annie Wood
Annie Wood
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Over 100 local authorities who are in the process of developing a new local plan have received a warning from ClientEarth, an environmental campaign group, that they will breach their legal obligations if they fail to include "robust evidence-based carbon reduction targets" in their plans. The local authorities have eight weeks to respond and explain how they will implement "meaningful" targets. If they fail to comply, ClientEarth has said it may commence litigation.

ClientEarth has stated that for the carbon targets to be "meaningful", they must be incorporated into local planning policy as a main objective against which all decisions are tested. It has also said that authorities must monitor performance against these targets at least annually.

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