Climate Law Matters

Episode 29: The Government’s Drive for Green Energy and its Legal Implications

In this episode, Matthew McFeeley, a partner at Richard Buxton Solicitors discusses the legal implications of the Government’s drive for green energy with Celia Reynolds, a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers specialising in public and environmental law. Matthew and Celia discuss the changes introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, updates to the process for challenging DCOs, and the recommendations made in the Fingleton Review.

Episode 28: Reducing Emissions from Aviation

At the global level, it is estimated that aviation accounts for 2.4% of annual anthropogenic CO₂ emissions and 4% of anthropogenic global heating up to 2021. As the sector continues to grow, those impacts will increase, and by 2050, aviation could be responsible for around 22% of CO₂ emissions alone. In this episode, Steph David discusses the problem of emissions from aviation, how those emissions can be mitigated and the role the law can play in that mitigation with three experts in the field: 1. Ali Warrington, Head of Aviation, Energy and Heat at Possible, a climate campaigning organisation 2. Alex Chapman, Senior Economist at the New Economics Foundation leading up their programme on air transport and tourism 3. David Kay, Legal Director at Opportunity Green, an organisation focussing on bold and fair solutions to address climate change. The panel discuss the current policy approach to decarbonise aviation, aviation taxation and legal barriers to its reform, the role of carbon pricing, the international nature of aviation and non-CO₂ emissions.

Episode 27: Ecosystem Collapse and the UK's National Security

In the first episode of 2026, Ruth Chambers, Senior Fellow at Green Alliance returns to discuss the UK Government’s assessment of global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse with Flora Curtis, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers. Published in January following an initially unsuccessful freedom of information request made in late 2025, the report examines the global ecosystems most critical to the UK and the risks that their collapse could pose to national security. Ruth explains the purpose of the assessment, its key findings, and what the impact of its publication has been both domestically and internationally.

Episode 26: 2025 Caselaw Roundup

In this special end-of-year episode, 39 Essex Chambers' barrister Ella Grodzinski and Anna Tranter of Irwin Mitchell look back at the key climate caselaw developments of the year. Costs & Aarhus protections:  * R (Badger Trust and Wild Justice) v Natural England [2025] EWHC 2761 (Admin) * Green Lane Association v Central Bedfordshire Council [2025] EWHC 2251 (Admin) Finch developments: * Greenpeace Ltd & Uplift v Advocate General for Scotland [2025] CSOH 10 * R (Boswell) v Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero [2025] EWCA Civ 669 Aviation:  * R (Luton and District Association) v Secretary of State for Transport [2025] EWHC 3206 (Admin) * R (Possible & Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport) v Secretary of State for Transport [2025] EWHC 1101 (Admin) Additionally, they also share a look ahead to key cases in 2026, including the Foodrise Supreme Court appeal, Gatwick's second runway challenge, and emerging corporate accountability claims.

Episode 25: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Interview with Dr Diana Casey

39 Essex Chambers' barrister Christopher Moss discusses the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (“UK ETS”) with Dr Diana Casey, the Executive Director of Energy and Climate change at the Mineral Products Association, a board member of the Emissions Trading Group, and chair of the Emissions Trading System Policy group for the Emissions Trading Group. Dr Casey provides an overview of the UK ETS, its scope and purpose in achieving Net Zero before discussing opportunities and challenges, as well as how to measure the success of the UK ETS.