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Friends of the Earth meaning

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What does Friends of the Earth mean?
In legal practice, Friends of the Earth refers to environmental non-governmental organisations and charities that frequently act as claimants, interveners or interested parties in public, planning and environmental law, including climate litigation and regulatory challenges. The term is not defined in legislation; it is a descriptive label for separate legal persons operating under the Friends of the Earth name, including Friends of the Earth Limited and Friends of the Earth Trust (covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland), Friends of the Earth Scotland, and Friends of the Earth Ireland (Republic of Ireland). Practitioners encounter these bodies in judicial review and statutory challenges, responses to policy and planning consultations, Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) requests, and complaints to environmental regulators. They typically rely on public interest standing and may benefit from Aarhus Convention costs protection (for example, CPR Part 45 in England and Wales, protective expenses orders in Scotland, analogous regimes in Northern Ireland, and special costs rules in Ireland). Usage is broadly consistent across the UK and Ireland, but each Friends of the Earth organisation has distinct governance and liabilities. Identify the correct corporate charity in pleadings, contracts and costs orders, and verify its registered name,...
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Energy law weekly update, 9 May 2024: climate plan ruling, Ofgem LFCRP, Great Grid Partnership, CCS licensing round, fusion NPS, CO2 transport, EU gas CAM NC and EPBD

In this issue: Key developments and materials Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing Networks and network connections Conventional power, waste to energy, biomass, and CHP projects Nuclear energy Air emissions, efficiency, and climate change International energy Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Key developments and materials Friends of the Earth has won a pivotal High Court judgment against the government, with the court ruling that the climate strategy advanced by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero is unlawful. The court determined that adopting the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan contravened the Climate Change Act 2008. See: LNB News 03/05/2024 70. Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing Ofgem has released its conclusions on the consultation regarding updates to the licence fee cost recovery principles (LFCRP) and issued the LFCRP for May 2024. After reviewing consultees’ submissions, Ofgem confirmed it...

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Thomas v Cheltenham BC: EMF and medical implants can be material in GPDO Part 16 telecoms prior approval; Court of Appeal clarifies NPPF discretion and appellate jurisdiction (England and Wales)

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NEWS
Dutch Court of Appeal overturns Shell 45% emissions cut order; recognises corporate duty to limit climate change, with implications for cross‑border climate litigation

Shell persuaded the Hague Court of Appeal that it need not cut its emissions by 45%—or by any figure—by 2030, despite judges accepting campaigners’ argument that the firm owes a duty to the public to curb emissions to confront the climate emergency. There can be no doubt that shielding people from dangerous climate change is a human right, the appeals court stated. It is chiefly for legislators and governments to implement measures that reduce dangerous climate change. The 2021 ruling on appeal from the Hague District Court had directed Shell to lower carbon dioxide output and to bring corporate policy into line with the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Activists hailed the judgment as a landmark first. The action was initiated by Milieudefensie, the Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth, along with more than 17,000 co-claimants in total supporting the case overall...

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