We know we're facing a climate and nature emergency. It's been acknowledged by world leaders, but still our government continues to approve climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects such as coal mines and oil fields.
Friends of the Earth’s Legal and Planning Team uses the law to protect people and planet, challenging our leaders on their climate hypocrisy and demanding urgent action.
Their hard-fought legal victories help create a safer, greener future for all, but they need your support.
Donate today and help our legal team continue to protect people and planet
Using the law to protect people and planet
Policy
The team’s work behind the scenes is vital in shaping policies and helping
communities. They helped improve new legislation on the environment and supported our campaigners in delivering the Climate Change Act – a first of its kind for our planet.
Access to information
With decades of experience behind them, the team uses environmental law to support individuals and local communities to launch their own campaigns. They’ve defended the public’s right to peacefully protest and gain access to key environmental legislation.
Global impact
The team holds the government to account on its responsibility to protect poorer nations from the impacts of climate breakdown. For example, the team launched a legal challenge against the government’s funding of US $1.15 billion to support a climate-wrecking gas megaproject in Mozambique. Whilst the ultimate ruling was very disappointing, launching this case actually helped secure a UK government policy to stop new investment in international fossil fuels using public funds.
Join the movement
When you become a supporter of Friends of the Earth, you join a collective of passionate supporters who help support the legal team in fighting for a safer, greener future. Thanks to supporters like you, we've:
✔️ Demanded better climate protection. In 2022 we won a legal case against the UK government because its Net Zero strategy to cut carbon emissions simply wasn't good enough. You may have heard that the government has recently released its revised Net Zero strategy, but it still looks half baked and half hearted.
✔️ Prevented coal mines. The team’s legal intervention over an opencast coal mine on England's north-east coast pressured the government to refuse planning permission.
✔️ Fought airport expansion. The team launched a legal case to prevent a third runway at Heathrow.
Together we can support the team to fight more climate-wrecking projects.
Your inside track
As a supporter, you’ll receive the latest campaign developments as they break. We’ll send you our award-winning Earthmatters magazine, share expert tips for reducing our environmental impact, and keep you informed on key events and extra ways you can have an impact.
You’ll receive:
- exclusive Friends of the Earth email updates
- expert green lifestyle tips
- our biannual Friends of the Earth magazine.
