Planning and environmental law

What is environmental law?

Environmental law is a set of regulations that covers everything from climate breakdown to new developments in your town. If used properly, it can help protect the environment from harmful proposals like incinerators or new motorways.

Friends of the Earth's Legal and Planning Team has decades of experience using environmental law to support individuals and communities standing up for the environment. We help and defend people's right to:

Take part in the government's land-use planning system.
Use the law to protect the environment and public health.
Get hold of environmental information.

Planning and legal news

Illustration of Friends of the Earth's Legal Team

Equality and the government’s climate strategies

Published: 11 May 2022 | 3 minute read

As a result of our legal challenge, the UK government has admitted to acting unlawfully in its Heat and Building Strategy. Find out why its actions were unlawful, who it impacts and what happens next.

Climate

Legal and planning

Energy

Successes

Social justice

A group of climate protesters of different ages and ethnicities standing outside the Royal Courts of Justice with placards reading "Stop funding gas in Mozambique"

Judge rules UK government decision to support mega gas project in Mozambique unlawful

Published: 18 Mar 2022 | 5 minute read

Find out more about our legal challenge against the UK government, what’s happening in Mozambique and why it’s so important the UK government withdraws its funding from this mega gas project.

Climate

Energy

Legal and planning

Shallow depth-of-field photo of a stack of newspapers

Government taken to court over inadequate climate strategies

Published: 12 Jan 2022 | 4 minute read

Friends of the Earth says the government's "shocking" and "lacklustre" commitments are not enough to deliver a low carbon future

Climate

Press release

Building construction site, with workers and scaffolding against sky

Campaigners hold off government's planning reforms

Published: 15 Sep 2021 | 2 minute read

The government was planning to make changes to the system that shapes how our towns and communities develop. But backlash from our supporters and other organisations has provoked a re-think. Find out about the campaign against proposals to the planning system and why it's important.

Climate

Legal and planning

Successes

photo of protest against climate induced migration at COP22

4 cases that threaten the UK's climate reputation

Published: 06 Sep 2021 | 4 minute read

The UK is set to host the UN climate talks (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021. But while the UK government claims to be a climate leader, it's currently involved in 4 cases that may worsen climate breakdown. Read about the cases.

Climate

Energy

5 things you need to know about the new Environment Act

Published: 19 Nov 2021 | 4 minute read

From polluted rivers to dirty air, our environment needs urgent attention. Is the new Environment Act good enough to save and restore nature?

System change

Clean air

Energy

Plastics

Calls for government to provide more funding and support for local action on climate crisis

Published: 08 Dec 2020 | 3 minute read

Support local councils or miss your own climate targets – Friends of the Earth and local government issue warning to Westminster.

Climate

Press release

High Court hears legal challenge against Surrey oil development

Published: 17 Nov 2020 | 3 minute read

A legal challenge to Surrey County Council’s decision to allow 20 years of oil drilling and production to take place near Gatwick airport begins in the High Court today (17.11.20)

System change

Legal and planning

Press release

People holding up climate justice banners at a climate change protest

Justice and representation in the environment sector

Published: 10 Nov 2020 | 4 minute read

Friends of the Earth's legal intern Conso Enobakhare looks at continued patterns of colonialism and why representation matters in the environment movement.

Climate

General