Spending review: sidelining climate could land govt in court

The environmental group Friends of the Earth has today written to the government, warning that decisions made as part of the upcoming spending review could significantly influence its ability to comply with a climate ruling from the High Court.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the environmental justice organisation has reminded the government that it is legally obliged to produce a new climate plan this autumn that complies with the Climate Change Act, and that any cuts to funding for vital climate measures could impede its ability to do so.

Shared also with the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the letter clearly states that the green group is prepared to challenge the government “through the courts if necessary” should the government’s revised climate plan fall short for a third time.

In May 2024, the High Court ordered the former government to strengthen its plan for reducing the UK’s emissions following two successful legal challenges by Friends of the Earth and others, after both previous versions were found to be inadequate. The deadline for the revised strategy has been set at the end of October 2025, just days before international climate negotiations kick off at COP30 in Brazil.

Should it fail to set forward a credible path for delivering on the UK’s climate goals, the government’s international standing on climate change could come into disrepute at just the moment strong leadership is needed to steer the talks towards progress.

According to recent media reports, key environmental policies, such as the government’s £13.2bn warm homes manifesto pledge, may be at risk in the upcoming spending review. This, alongside other reported cuts to departments that oversee policies on the environment, could put the government’s legal obligations on climate under threat.

In its letter, Friends of the Earth highlights housing, transport and energy as key areas that require adequate funding to ensure the government can meet the court’s order. Within these areas, priority should be given to insulating the UK’s heat-leaking homes and rolling out low-carbon heat pumps, switching to electric vehicles, investing in bus services and lowering the cost of electricity to ensure the government’s revised plan is both robust and workable. 

Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said:

“The government has a legal duty to deliver on climate targets - no amount of political manoeuvring can change that. With the planet already warming to a dangerous degree, extreme weather costing lives and livelihoods, and the UK’s current and future prosperity hanging in the balance, Friends of the Earth will, if necessary, go to the High Court to ensure the UK delivers on its legal obligations.

“Beyond being environmentally reckless, underfunding climate action simply defies logic if the government is to produce the strong and detailed climate plan the court has ordered.

“And it would be economically foolish too. The OBR has been categorical that it’s cheaper to invest in climate action now than pay the colossal costs of inaction later. What’s more, the growth of the net zero economy is outpacing every other sector while creating thousands of jobs, and funding climate measures also reduces costs to our precious NHS from illnesses related to cold homes and polluted air. It’s imperative the Chancellor does not sideline the future of the planet in her upcoming Spending Review.”   

ENDS

Notes:

1. Friends of the Earth sent its letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday 4th June 2025. It is available for journalists on request.