Is this what you call ‘world-leading’? Government applies to send climate lawyer to prison in the year UK to host UN climate summit

The UK government applied to send Tim Crosland – a lawyer and director of climate litigation charity Plan B, who has previously worked for various governmental organisations including the National Crime Agency – to prison for breaching the Supreme Court’s embargo on the judgement to allow the expansion of Heathrow airport. If convicted Tim could face up to two years in prison. 

The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the expansion of Heathrow airport to go ahead rests on an argument that temperature limits set by the Paris Agreement in 2015 are not relevant. This sets a precedent that the climate agreement can be ignored, not just in the UK, but also internationally.[1] This comes in the year the UK is set to host the COP26 climate summit, five years on from COP21 which delivered the Paris Agreement. 

The decision to prosecute Tim also comes following a letter from Professor James Hansen – known as the father of climate change awareness – to Boris Johnson suggesting that he work with Tim on the COP26 climate summit this year. [2]

In the same year the UK is hosting COP26 the UK government is:

• Financing a major gas project in Mozambique to the tune of over $1bn in public money despite pledging earlier this year to end the use of public money for overseas fossil fuel projects. [3]
• Allowing Drax to proceed with the construction of a gas power station in North Yorkshire despite the planning inspectorate telling ministers the project would “undermine the government’s commitment, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008, to cut greenhouse emissions.” [4] [5]
• Delaying the Climate Bill – which is designed to replace EU rules following Brexit – for the third time since work began on it in July 2018, despite warnings from environmental groups that the delay would leave the UK without vital laws to restore nature and tackle climate change and damage its credibility in upcoming climate negotiations. [6]

Tim Crosland, said: 

“It’s been an interesting few days. Last week Professor James Hansen recommended me to the Prime Minister for his team for COP26. And now the Government is applying to the Court for my imprisonment.

The Government is doing three things. It’s claiming to be a “climate leader” ahead of COP26. It’s supervising the opening of a new coal-mine, continuing to spend billions of tax-payer money on fossil-fuel developments overseas and progressing carbon-intensive projects such as investment in the roads, the expansion of Heathrow Airport and HS2; meanwhile it’s suggesting that those who call out this treasonous hypocrisy and stand up for the future of our young people, our country and vulnerable communities everywhere, should be treated as organised criminals. [7]

It’s the Government’s primary responsibility to safeguard the lives of its citizens from threats too complex for us to address as individuals. When instead it prioritises the vested interests of financiers and the carbon economy, the social contract is broken and it’s our moral and legal duty to rebel.

If fighting for my children’s lives makes me a criminal, then so be it.” [8]

Notes to editors 

[1] https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rYzhAmGriMVGSPJMmINl36cCO7ASiyCEb0KMX07qQ3Y/edit

[2] https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2021/02/03/HANSEN-JOHNSON_Letter_2021.02.03.pdf

[3] https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/uk-government-investment-overseas-oil-ends-mozambique-gas-project-continues

[4] https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/legal-bid-against-drax-power-plant-fails-25-01-2021/

[5] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/30/uk-sued-for-approving-europes-biggest-gas-power-station

[6] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/26/fury-as-long-awaited-uk-environment-bill-is-delayed-for-the-third-time

[7] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/08/extinction-rebellion-criminals-threaten-uks-way-of-life-says-priti-patel

[8] https://planb.earth/government-applies-to-send-plan-b-director-to-prison/

ABOUT EXTINCTION REBELLION

Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction, global pollution, and increasingly rapid climate change. If urgent and radical action isn’t taken, we’re heading towards 4˚C warming, and the societal collapse and mass loss of life that that implies. The younger generation, racially marginalised communities and the Global South are on the front-line. No-one will escape the devastating impacts.

Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.

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1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

What Emergency? | Extinction Rebellion in Numbers |This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook 

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