Weald Action Group

Award recognizes grassroots environmental leaders who take significant action for our planet

Climate campaigner Sarah Finch, who won a landmark and far-reaching legal victory in the UK Supreme Court in 2024 in a case she brought on behalf of the Weald Action Group, is one of the six winners of the prestigious 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize.

The Prize is awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists from each of the world’s six primary regions. Prize winners are selected by an international jury from nominations submitted by a worldwide network of organizations and individuals.

Continue reading “Weald Action Group Campaigner Sarah Finch awarded US Goldman Prize”

A community goes to court to challenge the extension of a fossil fuel development. They argue – among other things – that the environmental assessment should have covered the climate impacts of burning the fuel to be produced. They lose in the first court and take their case to the court of appeal….

Sound familiar?

It’s not the Weald Action Group this time, but a local group fighting coal in New South Wales, Australia.

Continue reading “Australian anti-coal campaigner visits Weald Action Group”

The Weald Action Group has responded to the government’s consultation on proposed changes to planning policy (the National Planning Policy Framework, or NPPF). 

Current planning policy allows for – and positively encourages – oil and gas development within licenced areas. The new draft contains some changes – but unfortunate wording and omissions undermine some of the improvements.

Read our submission here 

Continue reading “Proposed planning policy updates on onshore oil and gas: some improvements, much more needed”

We have written to the Prime Minister and the Secretaries of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government and for Energy Security & Net Zero asking them NOT to implement recommendations from a controversial review of nuclear regulation. Read the letter.

Continue reading “Letter to the Prime Minister: Don’t scrap the Finch ruling”

We have won an important change that will make it easier for planners in Hampshire to make good decisions on oil and gas development applications.

Continue reading “Win in Hampshire: misleading wording removed from Minerals & Waste Plan”

 

The Weald Action Group is starting the new year by launching legal action over the UK’s failure to properly regulate methane emissions from onshore oil and gas sites.

Continue reading “Weald Action Group launches new legal action to tackle methane pollution from onshore oil and gas”

Happy New Year!

2025 was quite a year for the Weald Action Group. We saw continuing impacts of our 2024 Supreme Court win, and renewed debate on the topic of fracking. We also laid the foundations of a new campaign on methane. 

The year saw some positive developments – including a landmark opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice (see below) and a commitment by the UK government to end new oil and gas licensing, both on and offshore. However it also saw the intensification of climate impacts around the world, from fires and floods to the failure of farming systems. In October, scientists warned that the Earth had reached the first catastrophic climate tipping point, with coral reefs facing ‘widespread dieback’, and is ‘on the brink’ of reaching other tipping points, including the dieback of the Amazon, the collapse of major ocean currents and the loss of ice sheets. This underlines the extreme urgency of stopping producing and burning fossil fuels – the root cause of human-made global warming.

Here we look back at some highlights from our campaigning year – and send thanks to everyone who has been part of it.

Continue reading “2025 in review”

We have submitted a damning response  to the government consultation on the revised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Rosebank oil field, a reassessment triggered when the Scottish courts ruled the previous approval unlawful. This was a direct consequence of our 2024 Supreme Court win (Finch v Surrey County Council), which established that downstream “scope 3” emissions must be fully assessed for fossil fuel developments.

Continue reading “Weald Action Group response to the consultation on Rosebank”

Press release from the UK Methane Campaign

The UK Methane Campaign welcomes the release of the UK’s Methane Action Plan as a long-awaited and important step toward tackling a major driver of global warming. We are pleased to see the government reaffirming its commitment to reduce methane emissions and continue to play a stronger international role in encouraging other countries to follow suit.

While this marks progress, the Methane Action Plan does not go far enough. Efforts have been focused on offshore production, but it’s crucial that the onshore oil and gas sector is not left behind. Methane emissions from onshore remain a significant source of climate pollution, and ensuring that forthcoming regulations apply equally across both onshore and offshore activities will be essential if the UK is to truly lead on methane action.

Continue reading “UK Methane Campaign response to UK’s Methane Action Plan”

The UK Methane Campaign is inviting organisations to sign a letter to Secretary of State Ed Miliband, urging the UK to lead with strong, enforceable methane regulations ahead of COP30.

Continue reading “Add Your Voice: Urgent Call for Strong Methane Regulations”