UCL MEDIA RELATIONS

On 11 June 2003 the UCL Centre for Law and Environment will launch a DEFRA funded research report recommending that new Environmental Tribunals be set up to improve access to and the quality of environmental justice.

The idea of having a specialised environmental court has been discussed in the UK for some time. A number of models were explored in the 1999 Grant report, but were not taken up by Government. The subject received new attention in the report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution published last year.

The UCL proposal is for dedicated regional tribunals dealing with a wide range of administrative type appeals brought by business and members of the public within the expanding environmental regulatory system.

Professor Richard Macrory of the UCL Centre for Law and Environment said:

“The purpose of the tribunals would be to rationalise what appears to be a complex and muddled system, and to reduce the burden on other judicial bodies that are less suited to handling these types of appeal. The tribunals would increase public confidence in the operation of environmental regulation and also help to meet the UK’s international and European commitments on access to justice.”

Lord Justice Carnwath, Chairman of the research project Steering Board, said:

“Regulating the environment is one of the most important challenges facing the law. For that task we need a modern system of expert and accessible tribunals. I welcome the UCL report as mapping the way forward.”

Further information: The seminar will be held on Wednesday 11th June, from 5.45pm to 7.45pm at the offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, 65 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1HS. To attend please contact; Heidi Foden., UCL Media Relations, 020 7679 7678.