Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Weald Action Group

Sarah Finch @sarahfinch.bsky.social · 11d

Bad idea!

The ability to request judicial review is a vital safeguard against the govt making bad decisions and ignoring environmental rules & agreements.

Without the Aarhus Convention, @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social and I would not have been able to bring our case on oil production at Horse Hill

Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 12d

📢FOI in the News!

The government is considering leaving the Aarhus Convention, which allows groups to judicially review environmentally damaging proposals without massive costs if they lose.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

#Aarhus #EIR #informationrights #transparency

Starmer asks Conservative peer to write planning bill to block judicial reviews

Exclusive: One option could be to leave treaty that allows legal claims against projects such as Heathrow expansion

www.theguardian.com

1 9 12

Reposted by Weald Action Group

Sarah Finch @sarahfinch.bsky.social · 16d

ARGH!! A bad and irresponsible decision.

It also goes against the Planning Inspectorate’s advice that the second runway plans should be refused for a number of reasons, including the greenhouse gas emissions.

Glad to know that legal challenges are on the way.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Gatwick given green light for £2.2bn second runway plan

Heidi Alexander approves expansion to allow 100,000 more flights a year

www.theguardian.com

2 7

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · 17d

Urge Ed Miliband & the UK Govt to commit to strong, enforceable rules in the National Methane Action Plan.

Please sign and share

www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk/2025/09/add-...

1 2

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · 23d

✍️ Sign our joint letter: tinyurl.com/Cut-Methane-2025

🎯 Cutting methane is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to slow global warming. Urge Ed Miliband & the UK Govt to commit to strong, enforceable rules in the National Methane Action Plan.

#climateactionuk

1 3

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Sep 3

Very glad to see national organisations take this on. We have argued for years that planning rules for onshore oil & gas should be just as strong as those for offshore.

drillordrop.bsky.social @drillordrop.bsky.social · Sep 3

Nine environmental campaign organisations have urged the government today to end planning policies that favour fossil fuels.

drillordrop.com/2025/09/03/s...

Scrap planning rules that favour onshore oil and gas, environmentalists demand

Nine environmental campaign organisations have urged the government today to end planning policies that favour fossil fuels.

drillordrop.com

1

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Aug 28

Nigel Farage’s Reform wants to bring back fracking in England. We need to lock the current ban in law. Sign this @friends_earth petition and tell the Prime Minister: make the fracking ban permanent.
👇
action.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/tel...

Tell Keir Starmer to make the fracking ban permanent

Nigel Farage's Reform party has declared it wants to “drill baby drill” if it wins the next general election. There’s a temporary pause on fracking in England, but it’s not even written into law. So i...

action.friendsoftheearth.uk

1 3

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Aug 28

Meanwhile, the deputy leader of Reform-led Lancashire County Council says conditions are "not conducive to fracking, and there are no plans for it to take place here". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

1

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Aug 26

Nobody, apart from a handful of small companies, wants fracking. This article is good on some of the reasons why but neglects to mention climate.

We stand firm in our opposition to all forms of fracking, and to any new oil and gas developments on- or offshore.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Get ready for fracking, Reform UK tells energy firms

The party is serious about going after shale gas - but critics argue it's too difficult and costly.

www.bbc.co.uk

2 3

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jul 16

We've just signed the open letter to Peter Kyle and @feryalclark.bsky.social at the Department for Science Innovation & Technology calling on Government to reject Drax Power Station's bid to burn even more trees to power Artificial Intelligence Data Centres - no more bungs for biomass! #AxeDrax

Image of power station cooling towers with text over. The text is the same as in the Bluesky post.

2 2

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 24

Very pleased to see this is happening!

drillordrop.bsky.social @drillordrop.bsky.social · Jun 23

A group of MPs is campaigning to stop all forms of fracking in England by including them in the moratorium.

drillordrop.com/2025/06/23/m...

MPs seek block on all forms of fracking

A group of MPs is campaigning to stop all forms of fracking in England by including them in the moratorium.

drillordrop.com

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 23

We are so grateful to our amazing legal team, who worked their wigs off on this case: @marcwillerskc.bsky.social of @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social, and @estelledehon.bsky.social and Ruchi Parekh of @cornerstonebarristers.com

So much hard work... and such wonderful results ‪

Garden Court Chambers @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social · Jun 23

⚖️One year on: Garden Court's Marc Willers KC @marcwillerskc.bsky.social was leading Counsel in Sarah Finch’s successful appeal before the Supreme Court against the decision of Surrey County Council to grant planning permission for oil production in the Surrey Hills.

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 20

One year ago today, we won a landmark legal victory. We are so proud of the impact it continues to have.

This blog post reflects on the ways in which our fight against one oil development in Surrey is making the future safer for everyone.

www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk/2025/06/one-...

3

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 20

This is a huge win for the climate.

💚 To everyone who stood with us: THANK YOU. This is what people power looks like.

Weald Action Group campaigners and their legal team outside the Supreme Court

1

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 20

And yesterday the government published new Scope 3 guidance for offshore, and it was good news! The rules are robust and exceeded our expectations.

🚫 The Horse Hill oil site was stopped in its tracks
🛑 Onshore fossil fuel expansion is stalling
❌ Rosebank refused
✅ New Scope 3 Guidance published

1 2

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 20

💥 That’s a game-changer for every community resisting dirty energy.

This wasn’t just a courtroom win. It was the result of relentless grassroots organising, years of resistance, and the strength of communities who refused to back down.

1

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 20

🎉 One Year On – We Won, and We’re Still Winning! 🏆

One year ago today, Weald Action Group made history. We took our case over Environment Impact Assessments to the Supreme Court - and won!

Our victory has forced planning authorities to account for the true climate impact of fossil fuel projects.

1 1 2

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 20

With huge respect and thanks to everyone who was part of this campaign.

And to @friends-earth.bsky.social and @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social who intervened in the case and our lawyers @marcwillerskc.bsky.social @estelledehon.bsky.social, Ruchi Parekh and @leigh-day.bsky.social

1 3

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 20

One year ago today, we won a landmark legal victory. We are so proud of the impact it continues to have.

This blog post reflects on the ways in which our fight against one oil development in Surrey is making the future safer for everyone.

www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk/2025/06/one-...

2 1 4

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 19

The government has published new guidance on how to assess the downstream emissions from new offshore oil and gas projects. (That's the effects from burning the oil & gas.)

This was a direct result of our legal victory last year. Here's our quick take:
www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk/2025/06/new-...

New government guidance on assessment of offshore oil and gas sites is a big step forward – Weald Action Group

www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 2

Sarah will be talking about this campaign and what it means for the future of UK oil production at @gsiexeter.bsky.social this Wednesday.

All welcome – in person in Exeter or online.
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...

Details | Events | University of Exeter

www.exeter.ac.uk

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 2

We're delighted that @sarahfinch.bsky.social is shortlisted for the #SMKAwards2025 Campaigner of the Year Award.

This recognises our landmark legal win, which has had major implications for fossil fuel projects.

Thank you @smkcampaigners.bsky.social

Read more 👇
smk.org.uk/awards_nomin...

Sarah Finch < Sheila McKechnie Foundation

smk.org.uk

1 1 3

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · Jun 2

The UK Youth Methane Campaign invites young people interested in campaigning on this vital topic to a roundtable. Join a call this week, and a roundtable in Climate Action Week.

Contact [email protected]

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · May 28

A chance to hear from campaigner @sarahfinch.bsky.social about the case she brought on our behalf, and the amazing ripple effect it has had.

You don't have to be in Exeter, you can join online, next Wednesday at 2.30pm.

Global Systems Institute @gsiexeter.bsky.social · May 28

Join the GSI for the next talk in our seminar series, this time with climate campaigner @sarahfinch.bsky.social who won a landmark legal victory last year which has had major implications for fossil fuel developments in the UK and beyond.

You can find out more here: tinyurl.com/5n7pj2h2

#GSIExeter

1 4

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · May 13

The Ocean is our strongest ally in coping with the climate crisis. But we continue to hurt it, day by day. It’s time we protect our wounded planet and let it recover to become resilient and healthy again – because our planet is blue. Sign the OceanCare petition now: action.wemove.eu/petition/202...

Because Our Planet Is Blue

The Ocean is the Earth’s cradle of life, nourishing and connecting the entire planet. It is our strongest ally in coping with the climate crisis. We all depend on the balance and wellbeing of the endl...

action.wemove.eu

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · May 10

Scientists - please go if you can!

Dr Emily Grossman 🧬✍️🎤✊🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️♾️🐱 @dremilygrossman.bsky.social · Apr 17

Scientists!
Our planet needs your voice!

I beg you to join me, Chris Packham & 100+ scientists on May 13th in a peaceful gathering in Parliament Sq, to put pressure on the government to be informed by - & ACT ON - science.
tinyurl.com/Scientists2025

Pls help spread the word
#BringScienceToPolitics

Scientists @ Parliament 13 May 2025: Key info & FAQs for partipants

🥼📹 Click here to watch your invitation from Chris Packham 📹🥼 👉Pledge to join at : tinyurl.com/SciParl25👈 Join the conversation on Signal (and/or receive key updates via Whatsapp) We can now confirm ...

tinyurl.com

1

Weald Action Group @wealdactiongroup.bsky.social · May 10

We responded to the government's recent consultation on the future of energy production in the North Sea - which also covered onshore oil & gas production in England.

Read our response here: www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk/2025/05/the-...

The future of energy production in the North Sea and beyond: our response – Weald Action Group

www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk

1