Dear John
I got in touch recently to ask for your support on Friends of the Earth’s work, including our team’s next big legal case.
We’re taking the government to court over its inadequate response to the climate crisis. Its strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions is riddled with holes. And we believe it’s unlawful.
The government has a legally binding commitment to cut emissions – under a law that supporters like you successfully campaigned for over a decade ago.
But its Net Zero Strategy lacks detail on how it’ll go about doing it. And our team of lawyers doesn’t plan to let them get away with it.
The truth is this won’t be easy. Friends of the Earth lawyers like me need support to challenge government policies in court. And our campaigners and media team need your help to grow public backing and shine a spotlight on the case.
We can’t do any of Friends of the Earth’s crucial work without you. And with the IPCC reporting this week on the already devastating impacts of the climate crisis [1], it's vital that we keep up our efforts. So if you can, will you support us with a donation?
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Before I go, I want to acknowledge that like many of you our thoughts this week have been with everyone suffering from the devastating impacts on people and the environment of the unjust war being waged in Ukraine – including our colleagues in Ukraine and Russia.
As part of Friends of the Earth International we’re keeping in touch with them and join their call for a peaceful and diplomatic long-term solution.
Finally, I’ve included my original email below in case you’d like a bit more detail about our legal challenge.
Thank you so much for your support.
All the best,
Katie de Kauwe
Lawyer
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We’re taking the government to court over 2 of its woefully inadequate climate strategies. And your help will make a crucial difference to our campaign.
The government’s Net Zero Strategy fails to include any credible explanation of how the UK will meet its legally binding targets to cut carbon emissions.
We think that makes it unlawful because it doesn’t comply with the Climate Change Act – a law that Friends of the Earth helped create in the first place, thanks to the support of brilliant people like you.
We’re also arguing that the Heat and Buildings Strategy fails to account for the impact these plans will have on protected groups – such as older people, disabled people and people of colour. I’m sure you’ll agree this is particularly worrying, given that some of these groups will be more vulnerable to climate impacts [2].
But we can’t go ahead with any of this without your support. With your help our lawyers and campaigners can challenge these plans in court. And shine a spotlight on the case that gets the world to sit up and take notice.
If you can, will you support us with a donation?
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You’ll know as well as we do that without credible policies to cut emissions, the government’s Net Zero Strategy is just a pipe dream.
It relies far too much on technology that hasn’t even been rolled out yet, like “sustainable” aviation fuel. Plus in key areas like home heating, plans only address part of the problem – and there’s not enough investment.
Crucially, it doesn’t allow parliament or the public to hold the government to account for any failures. The lack of detail prevents anyone from assessing the real impact of the strategy. The government’s already letting itself off the hook.
That’s not good enough. But with your help, we can:
- Shine a spotlight on the case – and gain public support for our work.
- Continue to scrutinise policies for their climate impacts – and call out those that don’t consider protected groups.
- Launch new legal challenges to protect people and planet.
- Campaign for a plan to decarbonise the economy that helps build a safer future for everyone.
Your support will be absolutely crucial. So please will you help us fight back against the climate crisis with a donation?
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Thanks to our incredible supporters our legal team has had a long history of fighting environmental injustice – from challenging governments to taking on fossil fuel giants. And we believe this court case will be our next milestone.
Thanks so much for everything you do.
All the best,
Katie de Kauwe
Lawyer
NOTES:
[1] What is the IPCC climate change report and what does it tell us? Friends of the Earth.
[2] We've found that people of colour are twice as likely to be living in fuel poverty as white people, while areas identified by the government as having a high number of residents with impairments or other health needs are more likely to be rated in the worst category for fuel poverty. Read more here.
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