Despite ruling, adaptation plan hopelessly inadequate and failing us all, says Friends of the Earth

Lawyers for Friends of the Earth and the 2 co-claimants are considering an appeal after the High Court ruled today that the government’s climate adaptation plan is lawful.

Today’s ruling follows a legal challenge brought in July this year by Friends of the Earth and 2 people whose lives are already severely impacted by the climate crisis:

• Disability activist Doug Paulley, who has a number of health conditions which are being exacerbated by searing summer temperatures. He's concerned that the current NAP fails to consider the needs of disabled people – particularly in places such as care homes – putting him and others at risk.
• Kevin Jordan, whose home in Hemsby, Norfolk was demolished shortly before Christmas 2023 after coastal erosion fuelled by sea level rise and severe storms caused by climate change left it in severe danger of falling into the sea.

Friends of the Earth and the co-claimants argued that the current National Adaptation Programme (NAP), introduced by the previous government in July 2023, falls far short of what's legally required, with marginalised groups – such as older and disabled people – and those living in areas most exposed to rising global temperatures, disproportionately affected by the impacts of extreme weather and a deficient national adaptation programme.