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Chris Packham cleared to challenge government’s net zero rollback in court
Chris Packham, May 2, 2023

CHRIS PACKHAM has won permission for a judicial review of the government’s decision to ditch some of its green commitments.

The naturalist and TV presenter sent a challenge to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October after the government watered down policies aimed at helping cut Britain’s climate-warming emissions to net zero by 2050.

Mr Sunak announced the rollback in September, which included delaying the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035, reducing the phase-out of gas boilers from 100 per cent to 8 per cent by 2035 and scrapping the requirement for home to receive energy efficiency upgrades.

Today, law firm Leigh Day, representing Mr Packham, said that Mr Justice Eyre had granted permission for the legal challenge to be heard in court.

Leigh Day said a judge would decide whether it was lawful for ministers to water down the policies, with a hearing to take place later this year.

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “We strongly reject these claims and will be robustly defending this challenge.”

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