The Supreme Court has ruled the government's 30-year plan for tackling climate change should be quashed.
It follows a legal battle from environmental campaigners who argued the National Mitigation Plan falls far short of what's needed to tackle climate change.
Last year, the High Court ruled it cannot "second guess" the government over its climate policy.
The Supreme Court overturned that decision this morning and found the plan does not provide enough detail on how the government plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/SbROGArceW
— Climate Case Ireland (@climatecaseire) July 31, 2020
In the ruling, delivered via videolink this morning, chief justice Frank Clarke ruled that the case, brought by Friends of the Irish Environment was answerable by the courts.
He found that a court ruling would not amount to an “impermissible impingement by the courts” into areas of Government policy.
Dr Aine Ryall, Co-Director of the Centre for Law and the Environment at University College Cork says "The judgment is a phenomenal victory for Friends of the Irish Environment and everyone involved Climate Case Ireland. The judgment will be welcomed around the world and will be a beacon for further climate litigation. The net result is that the Plan is quashed and a new Plan must now be produced that meets the requirements of the 2015 Act."
